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.

Roast dinners, mine pies, chocolates, trifle, profiteroles, gingerbread, cheese and crackers –a whole host of things are consumed at Christmas time and that’s not even the half of it.

When you’re entertaining guests over the festive period it’s important to double check if they have any allergies. The last thing you want is somebody falling ill after sampling your delicious homemade chocolate brownies.

However, for those unexpected occasions when somebody accidentally eats something they shouldn’t it’s useful to be prepared. In the 7^th instalment of the 12 Days of First Aid Tips, we will cover how to treat anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening condition.

Hypothermia occurs when a person’s body temperature drops from the normal level of 37C to below 35C. As hypothermia is a life-threatening condition action must be taken quickly to prevent the situation from getting any worse.

In the 6^th instalment of the 12 Days of First Aid Tips, we want to educate you about the symptoms of hypothermia and how you should take action.

People with Photosensitive Epilepsy may be affected by flashing Christmas lights. Lights put up by public organisations must adhere to health and safety regulations preventing them from flashing at a rate that will trigger seizures. However, Christmas lights sold to the general public do not have to comply with these regulations.

In the fifth instalment of the 12 Days of First Aid Tips, we want to show you how to take care of someone experiencing a seizure.