First aid

Black Friday: how to survive it

Xmas-shopping-crowd-BLOGThe Thanksgiving shopping bonanza is the latest American import to reach these shores – but who knew getting a bargain could be such dangerous work?

They came; they saw; they had a dust-up.

As the clock struck twelve last night, thousands of ravenous bargain-hunters crammed themselves into Britain’s stores – closely followed by scores of police officers.

While speakers rang out with Tis the season to be jolly, numerous scuffles and punch-ups erupted in the aisles as shoppers jostled for heavily discounted goods. More

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Meet Jess: the humble life-saver

Jess-Bradley-HCA-winner-BLOGJess Bradley has won a major award after saving the life of a man with a horrific injury – but she doesn’t see anything remarkable about her actions.

Today, Shetland Islander Jess Bradley was given a young heroes’ award by the British Red Cross.

And no wonder. Even a mere mention of the disturbing scene she had to deal with (helping a man with a deep gash in his neck) would be enough to make most people feel queasy.

But the trained first aider is surprisingly blasé about the whole incident. As she puts it: “I didn’t think it was anything remarkable – it was what I’d been trained to do, an instinct.” More

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Dogs of war: the first aiders on four legs

DOGS-gas-mask-houndsDuring the First World War, the British Red Cross got lots of help from an unlikely quarter. As Armistice Day approaches, we sniff around for the full story.

At first, it sounds like a particularly far-fetched episode of Lassie.

A dog, you say, carrying first aid supplies through the whizzing bombs and flying bullets of no man’s land? And all to reach and save wounded soldiers? It sounds preposterous. But it’s true – every word of it. More

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Katie Melua finds spider in her ear

Katie-Melua-BLOGThe singer was being driven the closest thing to crazy (sorry, couldn’t resist) by a scratching noise in her ear – until doctors made a grisly discovery.

Here’s a creepy-crawly tale to make your skin, well, crawl.

Katie Melua recently visited her doctor about a repetitive scratching noise in her ear that had persisted for a full week.

The songstress was concerned it might be an early sign of tinnitus, but instead the doctor found something altogether different – an incy wincy spider had set up home inside her head. More

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Wheelchairs of World War One: the untold story

Wheelchair-WW1-amputee-BLOGYears before the NHS even existed, the British Red Cross was providing mobility aids and prosthetic limbs to injured soldiers. As our service celebrates its 100th anniversary, a new documentary explores the harrowing stories of the first people we helped.

If you’re free this Sunday evening, here’s an idea.

Grab a drink, park yourself on the sofa and check out Secret History: World War One’s Forgotten Heroes on Channel 4 (7-8pm).

This fascinating programme looks at the heart-rending experiences of almost two million British soldiers who suffered life-changing injuries and disabilities during the First World War. More

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Halloween: a survival guide

Halloween-scary-kidsThe whole point of Halloween is to be a bit ghoulish, but it’s better if the blood remains fake and the looks of shocked horror are tongue-in-cheek. Here are some tips to keep you and your little monsters safe.

1. Pumpkin alert!

Everyone worries about the children at Halloween, but they’re generally not the ones wielding a sharp knife and trying to cut intricate holes into a big, slippery orange vegetable.

Halloweeen-pumpkinIn the USA last year (where pumpkin-carving is almost a national sport), around 4,400 people turned up at emergency rooms with genuinely scary injuries. Be careful, parents. More

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The A&E team: always on call

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Smiles ahead: Roxane Dacey, staff nurse Corrina Newman and Zaneta Podgorska.

Our crack team is easing the pressure on over-worked staff at a busy hospital, while ensuring patients get the individual attention they deserve.

It’s no secret that life is incredibly busy at an accident and emergency (A&E) department.

British hospitals are famously struggling to cope with ever-rising numbers of patients, and A&E departments are typically in the eye of the storm.

But now doctors and nurses at one Swansea hospital are breathing a little easier, after the British Red Cross set up a support service right in the heart of the building. More

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