First Aid & Self-Care topics
- Accidents and injuries
- Bites and stings
- Child safety
- Dealing with illness
- Dehydration and heat
- Dental health
First aid related articles
Follow these links for more information about caring for your health.
Aspirin
Aspirin now has an important role in preventing heart attacks, strokes and bowel cancer.
Australian health system: how it works
Australia’s healthcare system – find out how it works, which health services are funded by the governments and which services are privately funded.
Bacteria putting the wind up musical instruments
Bacteria can survive for almost 2 weeks inside musical instruments such as clarinets, flutes and saxophones.
Cat scratch disease
Cat scratch disease: find out about the cause, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
Drinking water
Along with oxygen, water is one of the 2 most essential materials for human life.
Eating out safely
The Food Safety Information Council has stressed the importance of education on food handling and safety procedures.
First aid for stroke
Some helpful tips on first aid for stroke and what to do when someone is having a stroke.
First aid in an emergency
Find out what to do if you witness an emergency or see someone who is unconscious and needs help.
Food poisoning
Food poisoning is caused by eating food contaminated with harmful amounts of bacteria.
Food tips for travellers
Here are some tips for eating and drinking safely while you travel.
Health improvement: do one thing at a time
According to recent research, success is more likely if we try and solve one health problem at a time.
Insect sting allergy
The most common allergic reactions to insect stings are those from bees, wasps and ants.
Left or right-brained? Check your mobile
Which side of the head you hold your mobile phone up to may indicate whether you are left or right-brained.
Meningococcal disease: information for travellers
Meningococcal meningitis is an acute bacterial infection (also called bacterial meningitis) of the lining of the brain or spinal cord.
New Year's health resolutions
New Year is a good time to think about making lifestyle changes that will benefit our health: quit smoking, eat a healthy diet, exercise and reduce alcohol intake.
Organ donation
Every year hundreds of lives are saved by the transplantation of organs.
Prescription medicines
Prescription medicines are an important part of treating and preventing illness. However, incorrect use of these medicines can make them unsafe.
Rabies: information for travellers
Rabies is a viral disease spread by bites from infected animals.
Snake bite: crepe bandages no use
Crepe bandages commonly included in first aid kits may not be effective in preventing the spread of snakebite venom.
Soap dispensers transfer bacteria
Bacteria can be spread by contaminated liquid soap in refillable soap dispensers, researchers have shown.
Travel medical kit checklist
Stay safe when you are travelling with this checklist of handy health supplies.
Travellers' diarrhoea
Contaminated food and drink are the major sources of stomach or intestinal illness while travelling.
Writing for health
People with chronic illness were asked to write about their experiences - an exercise that resulted in an improvement in their health.
Aspirin now has an important role in preventing heart attacks, strokes and bowel cancer.
Australian health system: how it works
Australia’s healthcare system – find out how it works, which health services are funded by the governments and which services are privately funded.
Bacteria putting the wind up musical instruments
Bacteria can survive for almost 2 weeks inside musical instruments such as clarinets, flutes and saxophones.
Cat scratch disease
Cat scratch disease: find out about the cause, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
Drinking water
Along with oxygen, water is one of the 2 most essential materials for human life.
Eating out safely
The Food Safety Information Council has stressed the importance of education on food handling and safety procedures.
First aid for stroke
Some helpful tips on first aid for stroke and what to do when someone is having a stroke.
First aid in an emergency
Find out what to do if you witness an emergency or see someone who is unconscious and needs help.
Food poisoning
Food poisoning is caused by eating food contaminated with harmful amounts of bacteria.
Food tips for travellers
Here are some tips for eating and drinking safely while you travel.
Health improvement: do one thing at a time
According to recent research, success is more likely if we try and solve one health problem at a time.
Insect sting allergy
The most common allergic reactions to insect stings are those from bees, wasps and ants.
Left or right-brained? Check your mobile
Which side of the head you hold your mobile phone up to may indicate whether you are left or right-brained.
Meningococcal disease: information for travellers
Meningococcal meningitis is an acute bacterial infection (also called bacterial meningitis) of the lining of the brain or spinal cord.
New Year's health resolutions
New Year is a good time to think about making lifestyle changes that will benefit our health: quit smoking, eat a healthy diet, exercise and reduce alcohol intake.
Organ donation
Every year hundreds of lives are saved by the transplantation of organs.
Prescription medicines
Prescription medicines are an important part of treating and preventing illness. However, incorrect use of these medicines can make them unsafe.
Rabies: information for travellers
Rabies is a viral disease spread by bites from infected animals.
Snake bite: crepe bandages no use
Crepe bandages commonly included in first aid kits may not be effective in preventing the spread of snakebite venom.
Soap dispensers transfer bacteria
Bacteria can be spread by contaminated liquid soap in refillable soap dispensers, researchers have shown.
Travel medical kit checklist
Stay safe when you are travelling with this checklist of handy health supplies.
Travellers' diarrhoea
Contaminated food and drink are the major sources of stomach or intestinal illness while travelling.
Writing for health
People with chronic illness were asked to write about their experiences - an exercise that resulted in an improvement in their health.
