Useful Information

If you encounter a medical emergency then call an ambulance immediately. Do not move the patient if:

• You think there may be a back or neck injury or any other injury that could be made worse by movement
• The person is in shock
• The person has breathing problems
• The person has severe chest pains

If the patient is not ill or seriously injured then we recommend that you escort them to the accident department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, or alternatively call 111 for medical advice.

When should I seek urgent medical attention?

You should seek urgent medical attention in the event of:

• Head injuries
• Loss of consciousness
• Severe bleeding, chest or stomach pains
• Broken or dislocated bones
• Choking

How do I put someone in the recovery position?

If the patient is unconscious but breathing, turn them on their side. Check that their airway is open by lifting their chin and tilting the head back slightly.

How to recognise severe chest pain or a heart attack

• Vice-like pain in the middle of the chest, often spreading down the left arm and jaw
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden faintness or giddiness
• Grey pallor to the skin
• Lips look blue

If the pain does not ease ring 999 immediately and make the patient as comfortable as possible until medical assistance arrives.

How to recognise medical shock

If medical shock occurs, the patient will become pale, sweaty, drowsy and confused. If the remain conscious, seek urgent medical attention and do not give them anything to eat or drink until help arrives. If they are unconscious, place in the recovery position until assistance arrives.

How to treat burns

Apply large quantities of cold water to the affected area as soon as possible and maintain this until the pain subsides. This may take as long as 15 minutes! If the skin is unbroken but blistered, apply a loose, dry dressing. If the burn is larger than four or five inches in diameter or if the skin is broken, consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Here is a list of useful medicines and dressings with a description of their uses. All are quite cheap and worth stocking at home in readiness for minor illnesses. Keep them in a box or cupboard with a lock – or store them well out of the reach of children.

Soluble Aspirin Tablets

Good for headaches, colds, sore throats (gargle with the solution), and pains in general. Aspirin should NOT be given to children under 16.

Paracetamol Mixture

For relief of pain or fever in young children.

Sedative Cough Linctus

For dry or painful coughs – but not coughs caused by common colds.

Menthol Crystals

Add to hot water to make steam inhalations for treating catarrh and dry or painful coughs.

Vapour Rub

Again, for steam inhalations. Also useful for children with stuffy noses or dry coughs. Rub on the chest and nose.

Ephedrine Nose Drops

For runny noses in children over one year old. Use before meals and at night but not for more than four days.

Antiseptic Solution

One teaspoon diluted in warm water for cleaning cuts and grazes.

Antiseptic Cream

For treating septic spots, sores in the nose amd grazes.

Calamine Lotion

For dabbing (not rubbing) on insect bites, stings and sunburn.

Dressing Strips

For minor cuts.

3″ Wide Crepe Bandage

To keep dressings in place. To support sprained or bruised joints.

Cotton Wool

For cleaning cuts and grazes.

Thermometer

For fevers.

Tweezers

For removing splinters.

Remember that your local chemist can give you advice about medicines.

It’s easy to take your health for granted, but by following a healthy lifestyle you can reduce the risk of getting seriously ill. You will feel better and it will help improve your immune system.

Alcohol

In small quantities, alcohol can actually be beneficial to health. In large quantities, on a regular basis, it can have a very serious negative effect on health. At one extreme it can kill. Cirrhosis of the liver, for instance, is killing an increasing number of people, as are drivers who are over the limit.

An accepted safe limit is 21 units a week for men and 14 units for women, a unit being approximately a glass of wine, half a pint of beer or a single measure of spirit. This recommended maximum presumes that the consumption is spread throughout the week and not consumed all at once in a ‘binge’.

Smoking

Over 100,000 people die each year in the UK from smoking-related diseases. Every cigarette you smoke can shorten your life by an average of five and a half minutes. Babies of smokers are, on average, 200 grams smaller than those of non-smokers.

Stopping smoking is all about motivation. Without the real desire to give up you are unable to succeed. You must want to give up rather than feel you should give up. Set a date a week or so in the future when you intend to stop. Tell all your friends, relations and work colleagues that you’re giving up on that day and ask for their support and encouragement. If at all possible, find someone to give up with you.

When the big day comes, plan it carefully with plenty to keep you occupied. Avoid situations where the desire to smoke will be strongest such as whilst drinking. Finally, carefully put the money you would have spent on cigarettes on one side, each day, to save up for some special treat as a reward.

If you’ve tried everything and failed but are still keen to give up, seek help from your doctor.

Diet

If your diet is lacking, your body has ways of letting you know, for example, you may be overweight or underweight or you may have a spotty complexion or constipation. Ultimately, a bad diet can lead to serious problems such as heart disease.

A good diet helps fight off disease and makes you look and feel good

Ways to keep healthy

• Check your blood pressure- Has yours been checked in the past five years?
• Manage your weight- Keep on top of your BMI.
• Give up smoking- Make your plans to quit and stick to them!
• Exercise regularly- Exercise has both physical and mental benefits.
• Take time to relax- Tension and anxiety can be helped by a psychologist or counsellor.
• Limit your alcohol intake- Enjoy alcohol on a restricted basis.
• Attend regular cervical screenings- Women should have regular smear tests every 3 years.
• Tetnus cover- We will check if you are immune and bring your cover up to date.

It is always a wise precaution to pack some essential items in case of illnesss on holiday. Do choose medicines according to your needs and the country you are visiting. If you take prescription medicines regularly remember to pack then too.

Holiday Medical Kit

• Paracetamol
• Travel sickness tablets
• Plasters
• Rehydration solutions such as Dioralyte
• Anti-diarrhoeal, eg Imodium
• High factor sunscreen; calamine lotion

Holiday Immunisations

Always check whether you need any immunisations or malarial tablets before you travel and seek advice well in advance in case you need a course of injections. Our Travel Health Advice Brochure may help you to determine what treatment you require.

Other Holiday Essentials

• Anti-malarials
• Water purification tablets
• Insect repellent
• Condoms/ other contraceptives

Medical Insurance

Arrange suitable medical insurance for your trip. Obtain a form E111 from the Post Office if you are travelling in Europe. This will entitle you to free or reduced cost medical care within the EU. Take the form with you on holiday. (Care can still be very expensive even with an E111 form.)

Death is an inevitable fact of life. However, many of us never think about what we need to do until we are faced with the situation. It is at this time you need all the help and support possible to help you through the grieving process . We at the surgery are available to give you advice and guidance; however, there are certain practical steps you might need to know about. These are things that you will have to do:

If someone dies at home

Telephone the doctor and they will visit to confirm that death has taken place and also tell you how to obtain the death certificate. Contact a funeral director who will be able to advise you on registration procedures.

If someone dies in hospital

Contact a funeral director to let them know that their services will be required. Collect the doctor’s death certificate from the hospital.

In all cases of death

Make an appointment to take the death certificate to the registrar’s office for the area in which the death took place. Also take the deceased’s medical card, if available, and also details of the birth certificate. The registrar will then issue you with a green form. Take this green form to the funeral director who will take over responsibility for arranging the funeral and allow you to grieve in peace.

Counselling has been described as the art of listening constructively. Most counsellors do not aim to influence their clients in a particular direction, but to help them explore the options open to them.

Counselling provides an opportunity for a client to work towards living a more satisfying and resourceful way and can help a wide range of problems including:

• Trauma
• Stress
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Relationship issues

Before a counselling session begins the counsellor should clarify with the client:

• The basis on which counselling is to be given
• The method
• Duration
• Fees

All that takes place between the counsellor and client is treated with respect, discretion and in confidence. Many counsellors are members of the British Association for Counselling. The association aims to:

• Promote the understanding and awareness of counselling throughout society
• Increase the availability of trained and supervised counsellors
• Maintain and raise standards of training and practice
• Provide support for counsellors and those using counsellor skills
• Provide opportunities for their continual professional development
• Respond to requests for information and advice on matters related to counselling
• Represent counselling at national and international levels

Counselling in Education

Counselling in Education is an organisation for anyone involved in any aspect of education:

• Teachers and lecturers
• Educational support workers
• Youth and community workers
• Advisors, administrators and inspectors
• Educational psychologists