Here is some info on a few herbal essential oils that are a very helpful addition to your family’s first aid kit

Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)

* Clary Sage is used in aromatherapy in preference to Sage (Salvia Officinalis) because Sage can be quite toxic. Clary possesses the positive effects of Sage without the danger. One should avoid the use of alcohol while using Clary Sage because the combination can bring on severe nightmares. Clary produces a heightened state akin to euphoria and relaxation. It is used in treating asthma, and during convalescence of the flu. It is used in abdominal massage for digestive problems. (Source: A-Z Aromatherapy by Patricia Davis)
* Most valuable uses: Muscular fatigue, menstrual problems, PMS, fertility, exhaustion, insomnia, menopausal problems, calming, stress, depression, cramps, excessive perspiration.
* Therapeutic properties: Antiseptic, calmative, tonic, emmenagogue, anti-infectious, anti-spasmodic, anti-sudorific, aphrodisiac, nerve tonic, nervine, estrogen-like
* Main chemical components: Linalol, Linalyl Acetate, Germacrene, Ceranyl acetate
* Contraindication: Avoid during pregnancy.

(Source: Essential Aromatherapy: A Pocket Guide to Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Susan Worwood Valerie Worwood)  Read more...

No parent wants to see their children suffer. Unfortunately, many children between six months and six years experience febrile convulsions. What are febrile convulsions and what can parents do if their child has one?

Febrile seizures are convulsions triggered by a fever of at least 104 degrees Fahrenheit. This seizure is among the most common; it’s also usually harmless. Febrile convulsions normally occur by the age of three, but they can appear in a child as old as six.

During a seizure you may notice your child:

* Become stiff
* Become unconscious or disoriented
* May have jerking or twitching movements
* May roll their eyes backward
* May have noisy breathing
* Following the convulsions, they may be confused or sleepy

It is important to realize that many children have febrile convulsions. While they may be scary at the time, they normally do not cause brain damage and usually pass within one to ten minutes without treatment.  Read more...

* 20 drops lavender essential oil
* 20 drops geranium essential oil
* 2 drops rose essential oil (expensive, so use tea tree if desired)
* 4 ounces aloe vera juice

Add the oils to the aloe in a spritzer bottle. Shake before using.

We all know mosquito bites are painful and irritating, and sometimes the treatments for them are just as bad. But you don’t have to go all the way to the store and pay a bunch of money for something that doesn’t always work. Why not try one of these great home remedies to take the itch out and get rid of those bites fast?

* Ice Packs. This is one of the easiest ways to take the pain out of mosquito bites. They reduce swelling, numb the area to get rid of pain and itching, and have none of the risks of medications or even natural cures because there’s no medicine involved.

* Vinegar and Baking Soda. Just add a bit of vinegar to baking soda, rub it into a paste and apply to mosquito bites. It will sanitize the bite and create a protective seal so the bite can heal. As an added bonus, this paste can also be used as a safe and effective cleaner all around the house.  Read more...

More than 90 percent of all poison incidents occur in the house. And while anyone can become a victim, children are the most vulnerable since they are smaller, have faster metabolic rate, and their body are less able to handle toxic material.

Causes of Poisoning
Since the majority of poison incidents happen in the house, the causes of poison are also found in the house. Here are the most common things that can cause accidental poisoning when used improperly:

• Plants
• Cleaning solutions
• Insecticides and pesticides
• Cosmetics
• Solvents
• Paints
• Drugs and medications

What to Do When Poisoning Occurs

Poison is swallowed

If it is a child, take the substance right away. If the poison is still in the mouth ask the victim to spit it out or remove the substance using your finger. Instructions on packages in case of poisoning often tell you to induce vomiting. Do not follow this without first consulting your physician.

Where to seek help  Read more...

Frostbite is freezing of body tissue. It is caused by exposure to extreme cold temperatures. Mild cases of frostbite affects just the skin, however, the damage can go deeper. Frostbite affects the extremities of the body including: nose, fingers, toes, ears and cheeks.

Why do you acquire frostbite?
The body has the capacity to cool itself down or warm itself up depending on the environment the person is in and the activity he is doing. However, during extreme cold temperature, body temperature goes down faster than it can heat up. If the body temperature reaches to a danger zone, the body starts to protect the vital organs so that it can still function well by increasing blood circulation to the heart and brain while reducing blood flow to the extremities of the body. As a result, nose, ears, cheeks, fingers and toes being to cool down and freeze.  Read more...

You may have seen it in movies, but in real life emergency situation when you are the only person who can alleviate pain and possibly save the life of the victim, quick response, clear thinking and proper procedures are very important. If you have proper first aid training, it is also crucial in efficient and effective execution of the initial and important medical assistance to accurately assess the situation in the scene while waiting for the professional help to arrive.

What is the emergency situation?
This is the first thing you need to know before jumping and offering help to the victim. Many signs and symptoms can be mistakenly diagnosed, especially during the time of panic. For instance, the signs and symptoms of choking and heart attack are almost the same. So instead of giving the choking victim the Heimlich maneuver, you are giving him CPR. This kind of mistake can make even the best CPR ineffective and can cost a life. Make sure that you have assessed the emergency well before doing any first aid. Ask the persons who are with the patient relevant questions. You can also ask the patient if he or she is conscious and responding.  Read more...

Snake bites are serious. If not treated quickly, the victim can experience extreme reaction to venom and in a matter of minutes, the result can be fatal. Since majority of snake bites occur in a remote area, emergency medical help is difficult to acquire. Thus it is important that there is a person in your group with proper first aid training in order to administer temporary treatment to the victim.

What to do in case of a snake bite:

• Snakes only attack if under treat, so the cases of snake bites can be attributed to people who get very near to the location of the snake or where snakes live. Thus, the very first thing you should do to the victim is to move him to a safe place. Once the victim is on a safe location, keep him still and administer the first aid.  Read more...

By all means, CPR is regarded as one of the most excellent tools in saving lives. Through time, it has saved millions of lives and has been in existence for hundreds of years in a row now. The thing is that the present and advanced CPR method has not been taught until the conclusion of the 1970s. Yet even before, CPR was already thought of as the artificial respiration and the chest compressions that are meant to save the life of a person in case that his heart has stopped with its normal routine of beating. This then calls for the necessity of going under the first aid training as one vital knowledge that is very essential during emergency cases.

The Misconceptions Revealed

There are series of misconceptions that have something to do with CPR. This is mainly due to the movies and television shows that influence the viewing public. There are several shows nowadays that feature hospital environments and the projection of CPR has been taken into a more dramatic level. However, this leaves a wrong impression on how the CPR is done.  Read more...

Insect bites and sting are generally easy to treat at home. Still, the effects to individuals who have severe allergic reactions to such bites and stings can be serious and require emergency professional help.

Common symptoms of insect bites and stings:

• immediate pain, swelling, redness at the area and swelling
• immediate muscle rigidity in the stomach, back, shoulders and chest
• burning, tingling, and numbness
• dizziness
• rash and itching
• anxiety and restlessness
• vomiting or nausea
• swelling of the eyelid and tearing of the eyes
• tremors, weakness, or paralysis, particularly in the legs
• sweating
• salivation
• double fang marks or deep sting mark

First aid for general types of bites  Read more...