Articles by Paula Bunner

Choking Children

29th May 2014

Choking Children Over One Year old No matter how careful you are, your child may choke on something. In most cases, you or someone else will see your child swallow the object that causes choking. There can be other reasons why your child starts coughing. However, if your child suddenly starts coughing, is not ill and has a habit of putting small objects in their mouth, there’s a good chance that they’re choking. Try these suggestions: Back blows (for children over one year) Back blows are more effective if the child is positioned head down. Put a small child across your lap as you would a baby. Abdominal thrusts for children over one year: Clench your fist and place it between the navel and ribs. [More…]

Barbecue Food Safety – How to Prevent Food Poisoning

22nd May 2014

Food poisoning cases double over the summer, so remember these simple steps to help keep food safe. Food poisoning is usually mild, and most people get better within a week. But sometimes it can be more severe, even deadly, so it’s important to take the risks seriously. Children, older people and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to food poisoning. “The safest option is to cook food indoors using your oven,” says a spokesperson from the Food Standards Agency (FSA). “You can then put the cooked food outside on the barbecue for flavour.” This can be an easier option if you’re cooking for a lot of people at the same time. If you are only cooking on the barbecue, the two main risk factors are: undercooked meat spreading germs from raw meat [More…]

Choking Adult

17th May 2014

The information below is for choking in adults and children over one year old. If the airway is only partly blocked, the person will usually be able to speak, cry, cough or breathe. In situations like this, a person will usually be able to clear the blockage themselves. If choking is mild: Encourage the person to continue coughing to try to clear the blockage. Remove any obvious obstruction from the mouth using your first two fingers and thumb. If the obstruction is severe and the person is struggling to breathe, give up to five back blows (between the shoulder blades), using the heel of your hand. Carefully check the mouth and, if possible, remove any obstruction after every blow. If this does not clear the [More…]

Bowel Cancer Symptoms – Signs and Symptoms

8th May 2014

The symptoms of bowel (colorectal) cancer can be: Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo A change in bowel habit lasting for 3 weeks or more especially to looser or runny poo Unexplained weight loss Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason A pain or lump in your tummy You might experience one, some, all of the above or no symptoms at all. Remember most symptoms will not be bowel cancer. If you are worried about any symptoms that you think might be caused by bowel cancer, make an appointment with your doctor or call the Bowel Cancer UK Information and Support Service on 0800 8 40 35 40 or email support(at)bowelcanceruk.org.uk Just remember you’ll not be wasting anyone’s time by getting checked out. If it isn’t serious, you’ll [More…]

Choking in Babies

14th April 2014

Choking in Babies Under 12 months old A baby who is choking will be distressed and may be unable to cry, cough or breathe. Lie the baby face down along your forearm or thigh, with their head low. Support their head. Stop after each slap to check if the blockage has cleared. Important: do not use abdominal thrusts with babies under one year old. Stop after each thrust to check if the blockage has cleared. Dial 999 (or 112) for an ambulance immediately. Do not leave the baby. Take him or her with you to the phone Continue with the cycles of back slaps and chest thrusts until help arrives Complications Once the baby’s airway is cleared, some of the material that caused the blockage [More…]

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