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.

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.