Meningitis
Learn how to help someone who has meningitis.
Learning objectives
- Learn how to recognise when someone may have meningitis
- Learn the key action to help when someone may have meningitis
- Practise applying the key action to a known situation in a role play
- Share something creative to inform others how they can help someone who may have meningitis
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Guidance regarding giving first aid in the current coronavirus situation can be found in our News section. Please always consider your own personal safety first when delivering first aid.
Sarah and her friends are revising together when she realises that Liv could be seriously ill. She has to decide what action to take.
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We were in Liv’s room studying together for our exams. We were all a bit stressed but Liv was feeling particularly ill that day. She seemed to be getting flu.
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Liv was hot and sweaty one minute and cold and shivering the next. She also had a bad headache. She had taken as much cold and flu medicine as the packet said to but nothing seemed to help.
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Her headache got worse, and then she started to complain that her neck had become really stiff and sore.
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I was worried about her as this didn’t seem like ordinary flu. We closed some of the blinds as she said the light was too bright for her eyes.
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It was then that I remembered hearing that a stiff neck and being sensitive to light could be signs of someone having meningitis. I checked on my first aid app and realised she actually had lots of the signs of meningitis. It said it was really serious.
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I asked Mae what she thought we should do. I just wasn’t sure, meningitis seemed so serious. What if we were wrong and wasting people’s time? She said we should call, it wasn’t worth the risk.
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So I did and told the person on the phone everything I could and they sent an ambulance to us straight away.
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Liv had a long stay in hospital but if Mae and I hadn’t helped, her illness could have been much worse. I’m just relieved I remembered what to look out for and had the support to call 999 and take action.
nextWhat is the most important thing to do if we think someone has meningitis?
A friend is unwell and Chris is convinced they have meningitis, but they don’t have all the symptoms. What should Chris do?
Take action: If someone has meningitis, call 999.
Start OverHow to help someone who has meningitis
Step 1.
The person may have flu-like symptoms, a headache and a high temperature. The person may also complain of a stiff neck and be sensitive to light.
Step 2.
If you observe these symptoms, call 999 immediately, or get someone else to do it.
Step 3.
Give them constant reassurance while you wait for the ambulance.
Can you help someone who has meningitis?
Learn
These activities help young people learn what to do when someone has meningitis.
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Meningitis – learn activity
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Meningitis – learner skill guide
Practise
These activities help young people practise how to help someone who has meningitis.
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First aid skill - Practise activity ideas
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Meningitis - Practise role play
Share and remember
These activities help young people to remember the key actions and share their knowledge with others.
Or go to:
Poisoning / harmful substance
Learn how to help someone who: has swallowed something harmful.
Helping others
Learn about the bystander effect, what inspires people to help and the qualities of people who act.
Safety and wellbeing
Learn and practise how to keep safe, use coping skills and look after your wellbeing when helping others.
Secondary guidance and support
This section includes curriculum links, a teacher and educator guide and everything you need to get started.
