Some people would say that the best part of Christmas is giving and receiving gifts. Although it’s fantastic receiving something on your wish list, the greatest gift you can receive is a lifetime of wonderful memories and adventures. (Cheesy but true!)

Just imagine for a second that your life was cut short by an underlying heart condition that had gone undetected until it was too late. This is what happens to many people that have suffered a cardiac arrest. However, with the right know-how and quick thinking we can save someone experiencing cardiac arrest. 

In the 11^th addition of the 12 Days of First Aid Tips, we will teach you how defibrillation is used to treat cardiac arrest. 

On Christmas day houses are often filled with mountains of scrunched up wrapping paper and packaging. Weeks later you will still find the plastic ties from gifts dotted around the house and Christmas decorations that have plummeted from the tree under the sofa. 

There’s far too much for little ones to sink their teeth into and we could certainly use eyes in the back of our head to catch toddlers in the act. Turning your back for a split second could be all it takes for them to pick something off the floor, put it in their mouth and start to choke.

In the 10^th instalment of the 12 Days of First Aid Tips, we will teach you the correct procedure used to stop an infant from choking. 

There are so many magical things about Christmas; the excitement of children as they wake up and Father Christmas has been, carol singers, twinkling lights on the tree and snowfall - if we’re lucky enough. However, the best thing about Christmas has to be spending time with our loved ones.

But what would you do if a member of your family or friends fell seriously ill and needed urgent medical attention? It’s a horrible thought, but people with underlying heart conditions can often put a great deal of strain on their heart at this time of year by indulging in sweet treats and alcohol or even shovelling snow from the driveway. 

In the 9^th instalment of the 12 Days of First Aid Tips, we want to educate you on how to perform CPR, so that if you are faced with an unconscious casualty who has stopped breathing you will be able to act quickly and effectively, giving them the best possible chance of survival.

Tis the season to be jolly and this often means that quite large quantities of alcohol are consumed. In the year 2013-14 over 297,000 people were admitted to hospital with injuries or conditions linked with alcohol consumption. Binge drinking not only puts individuals in a vulnerable position but they may also be at risk from alcohol poisoning and even choking on their own vomit.

In the 8^th instalment of the 12 days of First Aid Tips, we will be looking at how the recovery position can protect individuals who have passed out due to intoxication.