Marine First Aid Level 4 (VTQ)
Course Content
- Course Introduction
- Human anatomy and physiology for immediate emergency care
- Safety and Calling for Help
- What3Words - location app
- Marine band radios
- Marine VHF Radios
- Common Coastal Water Dangers
- Common Fresh Water Marine Dangers
- Emergency Flares
- LED Flares
- The Coastguard
- The Air Ambulance
- Personal Location Beacons
- Accident Prevention
- Boat Safety
- Calling for help
- Water safety tubes
- Types of Blankets
- Emergency response for hybrid and electric boats
- First Aid and Safety Equipment\
- Initial Assessment and Care
- Basic airway management in emergency care
- CPR
- AED
- Administration of oxygen therapy
- Drowning
- Choking
- Shock
- Bleeding
- Catastrophic Injury
- Injuries
- Hypothermia
- Illness
- FIrst Responder - Management of injuries
- Prioritising first aid
- Pelvic Injuries
- Spinal Injuries
- Rapid Extrication
- SAM Pelvic Sling
- Box Splints
- Spinal Injury
- Stabilising the spine
- Spinal Recovery Position
- Introduction to Spinal Boards
- The spinal board
- Using the Spinal Board
- The Scoop Stretcher
- Using the scoop stretcher
- Cervical collars
- Vertical C-Spine Immobilisation
- Joint examination
- Adult fractures
- Types of fracture
- First Responder - Management of trauma
- Elevated Slings
- Lower limb immobilisation
- Elevation Techniques
- Helmet Removal
- Different Types of Helmets
- The Carry Chair
- Applying Plasters
- Strains and Sprains and the RICE procedure
- Eye Injuries
- Electrical Injuries
- Foreign objects in the eye, ears or nose
- Nose bleeds
- Bites and stings
- Chest Injuries
- Foxseal chest seals
- Abdominal Injuries
- Treating Snake Bites
- Types of head injury and consciousness
- Dislocated Shoulders and Joints
- Other Types of Injury
- Dental Injuries
- First Responder - Management of medical conditions
- Asthma
- Asthma Spacers
- When an Asthma inhaler is not available
- Accuhaler®
- Heart Attack
- Warning signs of cardiac arrest and heart attack
- Heart Attack Position
- Aspirin and the Aspod
- Stable angina
- Hypertension
- Pulse Oximetry
- Epilepsy
- Epilepsy treatment
- Meningitis
- Diabetes
- Blood Sugar Testing
- Poisons and Food Poisoning
- Shock
- Near and secondary drowning
- Cold water shock
- Allergic Reactions and Anaphylaxis
- Course Summary
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Meningitis is an infection caused by the inflammation of the meninges, a membrane covering the brain and the spinal cord. It can be caused by a virus or a bacteria and death can result in a matter of hours if untreated. Acute illness may settle down into a chronic state and may lead to serious brain damage. Meningitis is one of the diseases that parents fear the most and with 50% of the cases occurring in children under the age of five, it's easy to see why. It's encouraged that parents familiarise themselves with the symptoms so that they can spot any of the telltale signs straightaway and get urgent medical help.There are two types of meningitis, viral and bacterial. With viral meningitis, it can be caused by a variety of viruses and infections and could be spread through coughing, sneezing, poor hygiene and sewage polluted water. It is the more common and less life-threatening. Viral meningitis has the following symptoms; headache, fever and drowsiness. Rarely, it can lead to deep coma and serious cases can show muscle weakness, paralysis, speech problems, vision problems and epileptic seizures. Bacterial meningitis is caused by different types of bacteria found naturally in the back of the nose and throat in one out of 10 people. They could be spread by prolonged contact with coughing, sneezing or kissing. Sometimes bacteria can cause blood poisoning or septicaemia and it's a medical emergency that needs immediate treatment with antibiotics.The symptoms of bacterial meningitis include flu-like symptoms, which can delay treatment, a rash or tiny blood spots which can appear and give the appearance of a bruise, which can come on in one or two days or just a few hours. Symptoms may not be there all of the time, which also confuses the diagnosis. With older children and adults, signs and symptoms include a high temperature, loss of appetite, a neck which doesn't allow the chin to touch the chest, joint pain, seizures and disorientation. With infants and toddlers, the signs and symptoms include high temperature, neck retraction, an arching back, floppiness, lethargy, convulsions, difficulty to wake up and they may be whimpering and finally, they may have a tense, bulging fontanelle, which is the soft spot on the head. Many people know about the glass test for meningitis, but the rash we are looking for is not the first sign and comes out as the condition progresses. It's a common misconception that meningitis rash appears in every case of meningitis. This is not true. If someone has meningitis but not septicaemia, they would not have the rash, that does not fade, but they will still be seriously unwell. Never wait for the rash to appear. The rash is caused by meningococcal bacteria multiplying rapidly in the bloodstream. They begin to release endotoxins or poisons from the outer coating. The body's natural defence has little effect on these poisons and eventually, blood vessels would become damaged. As septicaemia or blood poisoning advances, it will affect the whole body and can cause organ damage or failure. The rash associated with septicaemia is caused by the blood leaking into the tissues under the skin. It's important to know that septicaemia can also cause more specific symptoms to look out for as well as the rash. These include fever, with cold hands and feet, joint and muscle pain, rapid breathing and stomach cramps and diarrhoea. To complete the glass test, roll the glass over the spots, if they do not disappear, this indicates meningitis. Press on the side with a clear glass firmly against the skin. The spots may fade at first, but they will still be there as you roll the glass over. If you find that the spots vanish, then this may indicate that it's not meningitis. If in doubt, seek medical assistance. Do not wait for the rash. If someone is ill and getting worse, get medical help immediately. On dark skin, the spots or the rash can be more difficult to see. Do not wait for the rash, be aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis. After carrying out a primary assessment, make sure the child is comfortable, lying against some cushions, keep the child cool, call the emergency services and describe the symptoms and say that meningitis is suspected. Monitor their ABCs and monitor and record their vital signs. Finally, to recap, the glass test is where the red spots do not vanish when the glass is rolled over the skin. Meningitis is caused by inflammation around the spinal cord and the brain, and it's caused by viruses or bacteria and is easily confused with other common illnesses. A survey showed that 50% of children with meningitis were initially sent home, so you need to ensure that you get help as the condition gets worse. For more information, look on meningitisnow website and meningitisnow.org.
Meningitis: Understanding the Causes and Symptoms
Overview
Meningitis is an infection characterized by inflammation of the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by viruses or bacteria and requires prompt medical attention due to its potentially life-threatening nature.
Types of Meningitis
- Viral Meningitis: More common and less severe, transmitted through respiratory secretions. Symptoms include headache, fever, and drowsiness.
- Bacterial Meningitis: Caused by bacteria found in the nose and throat, can lead to blood poisoning (septicaemia) and requires immediate antibiotic treatment.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary by age group:
- Children and Adults: High fever, loss of appetite, stiff neck, joint pain, seizures, disorientation.
- Infants and Toddlers: High fever, neck retraction, arching back, lethargy, convulsions, difficulty waking up, tense fontanelle.
Glass Test
The rash associated with meningitis may not be the first sign and does not appear in all cases. To perform the glass test:
- Press a clear glass firmly against the skin.
- If spots do not fade when the glass is rolled over, it may indicate meningitis.
- Seek medical assistance immediately if in doubt, regardless of the presence of a rash.
Emergency Response
If meningitis is suspected:
- Ensure the child is comfortable and cool.
- Call emergency services, describing symptoms and suspicion of meningitis.
- Monitor and record vital signs.
Conclusion
Meningitis is a serious condition that requires prompt medical attention. Understanding its symptoms, including the potential presence of a rash, can help in timely diagnosis and treatment. For more information, visit the Meningitis Now website.