Basic first aid for carers
- Nikki Brown
- Aug 20
- 9 min read
Updated: Aug 22
By Emma Hammett and First Aid For Life
Emma Hammett is a qualified nurse and award winning first aid trainer with over 30
years of experience in healthcare. Widely recognised as a leading authority on first aid,
Emma founded First Aid for Life in 2007. Since then, she has become the go to expert
for trusted advice and outstanding first aid training.
Why is first aid important for carers?
We all want to do the best we can for the people we look after, having basic first aid
skills can make a huge difference. As their carer we are often the first one there when something goes wrong, and having the knowledge and confidence to recognise a problem and take the right steps can be incredibly reassuring.
With the rise of virtual wards, many of us are now more involved in things like giving
medication. Carers are not expected to be medical professionals, but we are critical to be able to spot early warning signs, and take steps to prevent accidents.
First Aid is a huge topic, and not something we can be expected to learn all in one go. This guide will be covering three key aspects:
There is a lot of information here so we might want to just take it one section at a time, or bookmark the page to come back to if we are unsure of anything later.
Understanding and managing medication: How we can help prevent prescription mistakes
Managing medication can feel overwhelming. And mistakes do happen, even with the best intentions - especially when we are over tired and running on empty.
Many carers are already helping with medication and should feel confident about what to look out for, and what to do if something doesn’t feel right.
“Allergies have to be watched with medication. I'm intolerant to milk and there are a lot of pills that have lactose in that I can't take.”
1. Stay informed and involved
It helps to understand the health conditions and medicines that we are dealing with.Talk with doctors, nurses and pharmacists. Ask questions. Take notes. Use trusted websites. Join support groups with other carers like the Mobilise Hub, or a condition specific group. The more we understand, the more confident we will feel when speaking up for the person we care for.
2. Understand how their medication works
Each medicine can affect people differently depending on the person's age, health, weight, other conditions, other medicines, and even what has been eaten or drunk prior to taking the medication. That’s why it’s so important to follow the instructions carefully. If anything feels unclear: always ask.
Even common things like grapefruit, caffeine and herbal remedies can interact with some medicines. There are also reasons whether medication should be taken on an empty or full stomach.
It is also helpful for us to know what sort of side effects to be aware of. We can always ask the GP, hospital, or pharmacist. For example, some diuretics can cause urgency going to the loo which can make people more prone to falls. Likewise blood pressure lowering medication can lead to postural hypotension, causing someone to become dizzy if they get up too quickly - again making them more prone to falling.
Older people metabolise drugs differently as their liver is less efficient and their kidneys may be slower to excrete the medicines into the urine. If they have lost weight, having less muscle, fat and water in the body can also impact how medication is absorbed and the dose needed.
“My husband lost half his weight in the early years of having Parkinson’s. I now wonder if that should have impacted his medication doses.”
3. Keep a medication list
It is helpful for us to always have an up to date medication list ready, especially for emergencies. This might form part of our emergency plan.
Where possible the medication list should include:
Brand and generic names of medicines (including over the counter ones, supplements and herbal remedies)
Who prescribed them and what they’re for
Dosage and how often to take them
Food requirements
Side effects to watch out for
What to do if a dose is missed
Storage instructions
When repeat prescriptions are due
Any allergies or previous reactions
Keep this list updated and share it with health professionals regularly. GPs and pharmacists should review medications often, especially when new drugs are added (some may react against each other) or stopped.
“A medication list is really handy to have alongside our emergency plan/pack.”
4. Read the leaflets
Those leaflets in medication boxes are easy to overlook, especially when we have a million other things to do, but they’re full of useful information. They explain side effects, how the drug works, what to avoid and more. It’s worth a read.
“I have a medication book that I update each week when I do my husband's weekly medication. I also list if there are special instructions for each med in this booklet.”
5. Speak to our pharmacy
While not always possible, sticking to using one pharmacy makes life easier if we can. The pharmacist gets to know our situation, can spot potential interactions between medications, and advise on timing, storage, or side effects.
Many also offer automatic prescription renewals and can help arrange collections.
They can also fill medication boxes to make it easier for everyone to manage more complex medicine regimens.
“Our chemist picked up on a possible harmful medication combination for my husband. It’s helped us using the same chemist for a long time and them knowing everything my husband takes.”
“Medication can be such a worrying area for us carers - great to remember the pharmacist can help us.”
6. Store medicines safely
It is a good idea to keep medicines in their original packaging, with the instructions, and out of reach of children and pets. Be extra careful if children visit, or if the person we care for may be likely to take them if they see them.
It might be safer to store medicines in a secure location, off tables and away from handbags. We should also keep an eye on expiration dates, especially if the medication isn’t something they need to take regularly.
7. Be cautious with alcohol
Alcohol can seriously interact with many medications. As we get older, our bodies may process alcohol differently, and even small amounts can cause unwanted effects when combined with certain drugs. Always check with a healthcare professional if we’re unsure what’s safe for us or the person we look after.
8. Watch out for driving
Some medications can make people drowsy, dizzy or affect their vision. If that happens, we should try to stop them driving and speak to a health professional. This is especially important with painkillers, antihistamines, or anything that says “may cause drowsiness.”
Food poisoning
Keeping those we care for safe includes food safety too. If we care for a child or older adult for example, they can be more vulnerable to food poisoning. And symptoms like nausea or diarrhoea can quickly become serious, causing dehydration, confusion or hospitalisation.
Why older adults are more at risk
As we age, our immune system gets weaker and stomach acid levels drop, making it harder to kill harmful bacteria. Ongoing health conditions or medicines can make it even harder to fight off illness. They may also be reluctant to throw out-of-date food items away, either because they can’t see the expiry date, or because they don’t want to waste food.
Common causes of food poisoning
The most common causes of food poisoning include:
Salmonella: raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, and meat
Listeria: soft cheeses, pâté, deli meats, and unpasteurised milk
E. coli: undercooked beef, unwashed vegetables, or contaminated water
Norovirus: spreads through contaminated food, surfaces, or person to person
Symptoms to look out for
Symptoms of food poisoning can appear quickly or take a few days to develop. Keep an
eye out for:
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhoea (sometimes with blood)
Stomach cramps
Fever or chills
Weakness or confusion
Dizziness or signs of dehydration (e.g. dry mouth, sunken eyes, reduced urination)
If symptoms progress quickly or the person we are caring for becomes confused, there
is a drop in their blood pressure, or reduced alertness, we should call for help immediately. We should call 999 if the situation feels life threatening, or 111 for all other emergencies.
Preventing food poisoning: Practical tips
Storage
Check use by and best before dates
Keep the fridge below 5°C and the freezer at -18°C
Store raw and cooked food separately
Don’t leave leftovers out for more than two hours
Preparation
Wash hands before handling food
Use separate chopping boards and utensils for raw meat
Cook food thoroughly
Reheat food until it’s piping hot all the way through (at least 75°C)
Avoid high risk foods
For those most vulnerable, it’s often safest to avoid:
Soft cheeses like brie, camembert, and blue cheese
Undercooked eggs
Cold deli meats or pâtés
Raw shellfish or sushi
Unpasteurised milk or cheese
Hydration
If the person we look after experiences vomiting or diarrhoea, keeping them hydrated is crucial. Offer small sips of water frequently and consider oral rehydration solutions if needed. Always seek medical advice if symptoms persist or worsen.
When to call the Doctor
We should call a GP or 111 if the person we’re caring for:
Has had diarrhoea for more than two days
Shows signs of dehydration (e.g. drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion)
Has a high fever or blood in their stool
Can’t keep fluids down
If symptoms are severe or come on suddenly, don’t hesitate to call 999, especially if
they’re frail or have underlying health conditions.
Carbon monoxide: What you need to know
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas and it’s poisonous. It binds to the haemoglobin in our blood and stops oxygen from reaching the body’s organs. Even low level exposure can make someone ill. High levels can be fatal.
In the UK, carbon monoxide poisoning at home causes over 50 deaths and around 4,000
medical visits a year. But the good news is there are some simple steps we can take to help to really reduce the risks.
It is produced by incomplete combustion of carbon containing fuels such as gas, oil, coal and
wood.
Common causes
We, or the person we look after might be at more risk if we spend time around:
Faulty gas fires, boilers and cookers or those in need of maintenance
Blocked flues and chimneys
Open fires, burning charcoal in shisha pipes indoors and cigarette smoke
Portable appliances in mobile homes, boats and caravans
Paint removers and cleaning fluids contain methylene chloride
The symptoms of low level carbon monoxide poisoning
Signs to look out for:
Tension type headache
Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, confusion and stomach pain
Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
Symptoms similar to food poisoning and flu, but without a high temperature.
Symptoms that get worse over time. This might be due to prolonged exposure
Symptoms of higher level carbon monoxide poisoning
Signs to look out for:
Loss of balance, vision and memory
Loss of consciousness: with very high levels, death may occur within minutes
Ataxia: loss of physical coordination caused by underlying damage to the brain and nervous system
Breathlessness
Tachycardia
Chest pain caused by angina or a heart attack
Seizures
High risk groups
Carbon monoxide is a danger to everyone, however some people are more at risk than others. These include pregnant women, people with respiratory issues such as asthma or those with chronic heart disease, and babies and children. Long term exposure to carbon monoxide can also damage an unborn baby.
Pets suffer too. In fact, a pet becoming ill may be the first indication there is a problem; as the smaller the pet or person, the quicker they will be affected.
Precautions
There are precautions we can take to make sure the person we look after is protected from carbon monoxide poisoning:
Get all fuel burning devices checked annually by an expert
Sweep chimneys and flues annually
Fit carbon monoxide alarms that meet UK or EU safety standards
Never leave cars or petrol fuelled lawnmowers, generators or barbecues running in a
confined space.
Check our (or their) car exhaust for leaks every year and make sure the exhaust isn’t blocked. We should always do this while the engine is off.
There are other possible clues to spot which show you have a carbon monoxide leak
Look out for:
Sooty or yellow/brown stains on or around boilers, stoves or fires
Yellow or orange (instead of blue) flames coming from gas appliances
Excessive condensation in the room with the appliance
Smoke building up, due to a faulty flue
Pilot lights frequently blowing out
Black, sooty marks on the front covers of gas fires
What to do if your carbon monoxide alarm sounds or we suspect a leak:
Stop using all appliances and switch them off
Open windows and doors
Evacuate the property immediately, don’t return until it has been checked
Call the gas emergency number on 0800 111 999 to report the incident, or the (HSE) Gas Safety Advice Line on 0800 300 363
Seek urgent medical help
Treatment and recovery
Doctors will test for carboxyhaemoglobin in the blood. Treatment usually includes oxygen
therapy. In severe cases, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used. In cases of severe poisoning, around 10% to 15% of people may have long term complications.
One step can make all the difference
Being partly responsible for someone's safety can feel overwhelming, but taking just one small step today can help us feel more in control.
That might be to:
Start a medication list for the person we are caring for and keep it somewhere handy
Book a medication review with a GP or pharmacist
Check the fridge and cupboards for expired or high risk foods
Talk to our household about what to do in an emergency
Order a carbon monoxide alarm if we don’t already have one.
We don’t have to do it all at once, and reading this guide is a brilliant first step. Just doing one thing today can help keep us, and those we care for, a little safer tomorrow.
