First aid

Ankle sprain is a common sports injuries caused by overstretching and tearing the supporting ligaments.

Common sites for bone fractures include the wrist, ankle and hip.

Immediate first aid for all burns is to hold the burn under cool running water for at least 20 minutes.

Most hot tap water scald injuries to children happen in the bathroom.

A knocked out permanent tooth can survive if it is immediately put back. Do not put a knocked-out baby tooth back.

Always wear safety goggles or a face shield when handling liquid or powder chemicals.

Don't try to remove a foreign body from your eye - go to your doctor or hospital emergency department for help.

Flash burns are like sunburn in the eye and can affect both your eyes. Find out more.

Head injuries can be serious and require urgent medical attention. A hard blow to the head from a fall, knock or assault can injure the brain, even when there are no visible signs of trauma to the scalp or face. Symptoms of serious head injury include wounds, altered consciousness, clear fluid leaking from the eyes or nose, black eyes or bruises behind the ears, vision changes, nausea and vomiting.

There is no specific treatment for mild head injury other than plenty of rest, and not overdoing things.

Mild knee injuries may heal by themselves, but all injuries should be checked and diagnosed by a doctor or physiotherapist.

Even after a plaster is removed, the bone is still healing, so take care for at least another month.

A sports injury may be more severe than you think.

It is important to get the correct treatment for a sprain or strain as soon as possible after the injury to help you recover quickly.

The type of pain felt in the abdomen can vary greatly.

Children may feel stomach pain for a range of reasons and may need treatment.

Bleeding may be minor or it may be a life-threatening medical emergency.

If in doubt about the cause of your chest pain, call an ambulance.

Coughing and wheezing in babies can be distressing for you and your baby, but in most cases symptoms can be relieved at home.

Acute diarrhoea in babies and young children can be life threatening.

Common causes of fainting include heat, pain, distress, the sight of blood, anxiety and hyperventilating.

A muscle cramp is an uncontrollable and painful spasm of a muscle.

Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 immediately if you suspect your child has been poisoned, given the wrong medicine or the wrong dose of medicine.

Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) and asthma attacks need urgent emergency first aid. In an emergency, always call triple zero (000).

Allergies to insect stings and bites range from milder allergic reactions to life-threatening, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that requires urgent medical attention.

CPR is a life-saving skill that everyone should learn from an accredited organisation.

Don't slap a choking person on the back while they are upright - gravity may cause the object to slip further down their windpipe. Find out what to do when someone is choking.

Diabetic coma is a medical emergency and needs prompt medical treatment.

Alcohol, medications, illegal drugs and some herbal remedies can all cause damage if an overdose is taken.

Always disconnect the power supply before trying to help a victim of electric shock.

Good seizure management is an important part of reducing the risks associated with epilepsy.

Head injuries can be serious and require urgent medical attention. A hard blow to the head from a fall, knock or assault can injure the brain, even when there are no visible signs of trauma to the scalp or face. Symptoms of serious head injury include wounds, altered consciousness, clear fluid leaking from the eyes or nose, black eyes or bruises behind the ears, vision changes, nausea and vomiting.

There is no specific treatment for mild head injury other than plenty of rest, and not overdoing things.

Heart attack is an emergency. If you have warning signs of heart attack, get help fast. Call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

Drugs affect your body’s central nervous system. They affect how you think, feel and behave.

When using a ladder, make safety matter.

Mushrooms are a type of fungus. Australia has many varieties of wild-growing fungi, many of which are edible. However, a few types are poisonous or even deadly.

Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 immediately if you suspect your child has been poisoned, given the wrong medicine or the wrong dose of medicine.

Shock is when there is not enough blood circulating in the body. It is a life-threatening medical emergency.

A stroke is when blood can’t get to all parts of your brain and is a medical emergency. If blood can’t get through, your brain can be injured.

Asthma attacks need urgent emergency first aid. In an emergency, always call triple zero (000).

If you are bitten or stung by an insect or animal, apply first aid and seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

CPR is a life-saving skill that everyone should learn from an accredited organisation.

Some knowledge of basic first aid can mean the difference between life and death.

Your first aid kit should be organised, properly stocked and available at all times.

Exhaustion, hunger and dehydration further lower the body's defences against frostbite.

Heat kills more Australians than any natural disaster. Find out how you can treat and prevent heat-related illness, including heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramp and heat rash.

The early responses to hypothermia will be moving around, seeking shelter, hair standing on end (goosebumps) and shivering.

You can help reduce your risk of winter sports injuries with planning, preparation and proper equipment.

A blister is one of the body's responses to injury or friction.

A needlestick injury means the skin is accidentally punctured by a used needle. Diseases that could be transmitted by a needle or needlestick injury include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Bleeding from the nose is common in children and is usually not severe or serious.

The body begins repairing a wound immediately and the process may continue for days, weeks, months or even years.

Chronic wounds are more likely to heal if they are treated with moist rather than dry dressings.