How to offer first aid in case of conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, commonly known as “pink eye”, occurs when the membrane of the eyelid, the one that covers the eye when you close them, gets inflamed. When it comes to eye conditions, conductivities is one of the most frequently occurring, affecting both children and adults alike. In most cases, the illness starts in one eye but after a day or two, it will spread to the other eye as well. The symptoms of conjunctivitis are red, even swollen, eyelids, blurred vision due to the presence of discharges coming from the affected eye, itchiness, and sensitivity to light. The condition can be rather bothering, even if there’s no pain involved, so knowing how to offer first aid, in this case, may turn out to be very useful.

But, in order to know what the correct first aid approach is in this case, you need to go through first aid training first. First Aid Training Winnipeg will teach you how to recognize the symptoms of conjunctivitis and tell you about the causes that lead to this condition. So, while viruses and bacteria are the main culprits of conjunctivitis, allergies can also trigger it in some conditions. What you need to know is that conjunctivitis can appear at any age, which means that it can affect newborn babies as well, if they are exposed to viruses and bacteria. For example, if a pregnant woman is carrying a sexually transmitted disease, like gonorrhea or Chlamydia, the baby can get conjunctivitis during birth. But they can also get the infection from their environment as well.
 

While it is true that mild cases of conjunctivitis do not require medical treatment, it is highly advisable to seek medical help in order to avoid it degenerating into more severe infections of the cornea. Thus, you should see a doctor as soon as you suspect conjunctivitis. The treatment depends on the cause that triggered conjunctivitis. So, in the case of bacteria, the treatment is based on drops or ointments with antibiotics. If an allergy is responsible, then the condition will be treated with drops or ointments with antihistamines. In very rare cases, conjunctivitis can be caused by the same virus that causes herpes. If this is the case, the doctor will prescribe acyclovir, which is an antiviral drug. The rest of the viral infections will usually heal without any treatment.

Why do you need first aid training to address conjunctivitis? Well, if adults are easy to manage, having to give eye drops to children can be a bit of a challenge. First aid training will give you the knowledge you need to take care of this aspect with ease and efficiency so that the young one will not get scared by the procedure. But first aid training is much more than this and it will help you stay safe both at work and when spending time with your loved ones. You should seriously consider taking CPR Courses Winnipeg as well because they can save lives. And for those that work in the healthcare system, HCP courses can make their jobs much easier.  

Prepare First Aid Training Winnipeg is a locally owned company in Winnipeg, Manitoba providing the First Aid Training & CPR Courses Training in Winnipeg. To learn essential of First Aid, CPR and HCP skills please visit our website www.preparefirstaidtraining.ca.