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First Aid by British Red Cross Health and fitness Android (2.2 and above), iOS (8.0 and above), Windows phone (8.1 and 10) Free The ‘First Aid by British Red Cross’ app has been designed to enable members of the public to learn appropriate first aid management, before and during an emergency.1 The British version of the First Aid app has been adapted for use in 76 countries.1 The First Aid app is divided into five sections. The ‘Learn’ section (figure 1) contains easy-to-understand advice for 18 different emergency situations, each presented using key points and animations. Each situation is summarised using 15–30 s video clips, which facilitates different learning styles. To supplement the key points, FAQs are also included for those wanting further knowledge. The ‘Prepare’ section gives detailed advice on being ready to deal with 13 different emergency situations. Advice for essential items for inclusion …

To study the training effects of eight weeks of stair climbing on Vo2max, blood lipids, and homocysteine in sedentary, but otherwise healthy young women.Fifteen women (mean (SD) age 18.8 (0.7) years) were randomly assigned to control (n = 7) or stair climbing (n = 8) groups. Stair climbing was progressively increased from one ascent a day in week 1 to five ascents a day in weeks 7 and 8. Training took place five days a week on a public access staircase (199 steps), at a stepping rate of 90 steps a minute. Each ascent took about two minutes to complete. Subjects agreed not to change their diet or lifestyle over the experimental period.Relative to controls, the stair climbing group displayed a 17.1% increase in Vo2max and a 7.7% reduction in low density lipoprotein cholesterol (p0.05) over the training period. No change occurred in total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, or homocysteine.The study confirms that accumulating short bouts of stair climbing activity throughout the day can favourably alter important cardiovascular risk factors in previously sedentary young women. Such exercise may be easily incorporated into the working day and therefore should be promoted by public health guidelines.

Background Low physical activity (PA) levels which increase the risk of chronic disease are reported by two-thirds of the general UK population. Promotion of PA by primary healthcare professionals is advocated but more evidence is needed regarding effective ways of integrating this within everyday practice. This study aims to explore the feasibility of a randomised trial of a pedometer-based intervention, using step-count goals, recruiting patients from primary care. Method Patients, aged 35–75, attending four practices in socioeconomically deprived areas, were invited to complete a General Practice PA Questionnaire during routine consultations. Health professionals invited ‘inactive’ individuals to a pedometer-based intervention and were randomly allocated to group 1 (prescribed a self-determined goal) or group 2 (prescribed a specific goal of 2500 steps/day above baseline). Both groups kept step-count diaries and received telephone follow-up at 1, 2, 6 and 11 weeks. Step counts were reassessed after 12 weeks. Results Of the 2154 patients attending, 192 questionnaires were completed (8.9%). Of these, 83 were classified as ‘inactive’; 41(10 men; 31 women) completed baseline assessments, with the mean age of participants being 51 years. Mean baseline step counts were similar in group 1 (5685, SD 2945) and group 2 (6513, SD 3350). The mean increase in steps/day was greater in groups 1 than 2 ((2602, SD 1957) vs (748, SD 1997) p=0.005). Conclusions A trial of a pedometer-based intervention using self-determined step counts appears feasible in primary care. Pedometers appear acceptable to women, particularly at a perimenopausal age, when it is important to engage in impact loading activities such as walking to maintain bone mineral density. An increase of 2500 steps/day is achievable for inactive patients, but the effectiveness of different approaches to realistic goal-setting warrants further study.

Background Acute ankle sprains are usually managed functionally, with advice to undertake progressive weight-bearing and walking. Mechanical loading is an important modular of tissue repair; therefore, the clinical effectiveness of walking after ankle sprain may be dose dependent. The intensity, magnitude and duration of load associated with current functional treatments for ankle sprain are unclear. Aim To describe physical activity (PA) in the first week after ankle sprain and to compare results with a healthy control group. Methods Participants (16–65 years) with an acute ankle sprain were randomised into two groups (standard or exercise). Both groups were advised to apply ice and compression, and walk within the limits of pain. The exercise group undertook additional therapeutic exercises. PA was measured using an activPAL accelerometer, worn for 7 days after injury. Comparisons were made with a non-injured control group. Results The standard group were significantly less active (1.2±0.4 h activity/day; 5621±2294 steps/day) than the exercise (1.7±0.7 h/day, p=0.04; 7886±3075 steps/day, p=0.03) and non-injured control groups (1.7±0.4 h/day, p=0.02; 8844±2185 steps/day, p=0.002). Also, compared with the non-injured control group, the standard and exercise groups spent less time in moderate (38.3±12.7 min/day vs 14.5±11.4 min/day, p=0.001 and 22.5±15.9 min/day, p=0.003) and high-intensity activity (4.1±6.9 min/day vs 0.1±0.1 min/day, p=0.001 and 0.62±1.0 min/day p=0.005). Conclusion PA patterns are reduced in the first week after ankle sprain, which is partly ameliorated with addition of therapeutic exercises. This study represents the first step towards developing evidence-based walking prescription after acute ankle sprain.

On 1 January 2003, the International Hockey Federation introduced a mandatory experimental amendment to the rules pertaining to the taking of short corners. The new rule now reads “Penalty corner: no shot at goal shall be made until the ball has travelled outside the circle”.1 This change means it will no longer be necessary for attackers to stop the ball before taking a shot …