Internal controls and external frameworks to boost standards.

There need to be robust internal controls to ensure good standards in any organisation that provides care to vulnerable people (analysis July 18).

Management of procedures and reactions following first aid.

Registered nurses may fear that offering first aid will expose them to legal action and emotional stress. The final article of this series emphasises the importance of accurate record-keeping and provides advice on co-operating with legal procedures, including providing information to other professionals, obtaining consent and reporting a death. Providing emergency first aid can be an emotional experience. This article offers advice on coping after the incident, and reflection as a means of allowing nurses to assess their actions and resolve any issues.

Management of water incidents: drowning and hypothermia.

Dangers exist wherever water is present, and death resulting from submersion in water is likely to occur rapidly. This article discusses the management of drowning and hypothermia. Information on water hazards and preventive measures, the risks associated with rescuing people from water, and the pathophysiology of drowning and hypothermia is provided, enabling practitioners to translate theory into practice. The emphasis of first aid in this setting is on quick, effective action, including alerting the emergency services and maintaining the safety of all potential rescuers.

Management of home emergencies.

This article, the third in a series of eight, discusses the management of some of the accidents and emergencies that commonly occur in the home. It discusses the prevalence of these incidents and the role of the registered nurse in providing assistance. The emphasis is on ensuring the safety of the casualty, as well as nurses and any other rescuers or bystanders. Information is provided to enable the nurse to understand the priorities in managing the first aid situation.

Initial management of patients in an emergency situation.

Success in first aid is based on the ability to make the most of the resources available and on maintaining the casualty in the best possible condition until specialist help arrives. This article, the second in a series of eight, discusses how to assess and stabilise the casualty's condition and how to manage the emergency situation. Using case examples, it provides a methodical approach to risk assessment for casualties, bystanders and rescuers, as well as ascertaining and providing clear and accurate information for the relevant emergency services.

Providing first aid and assisting forensic investigations.

Forensic investigation is mandated not only in cases of criminal injury or death, but also where an unexplained death has occurred. The registered nurse involved in providing first aid in such a situation should remember that, while taking steps to maintain patient confidentiality, he or she has a duty to co-operate with any subsequent investigation. This article describes the basic management of hanging and strangulation, poisoning and sexual assault, and provides advice on record-keeping, preservation of evidence and the need for obtaining professional indemnity and support from professional bodies.

Emergency first aid for nurses.

This article provides guidance for nurses on giving first aid in the domestic, pre-hospital and clinical settings. It focuses on resuscitation, cardiac conditions, shock and haemorrhage.