There are thousands of websites out there that give medical advice. If you search for something like fever, you'll literally come up with hundred of thousands of hits. This can often be confusing. Some of the other sites, are written exclusively for medical professionals. They cite all kinds of statistics and clinical studies, and don't really talk about how to treat the patient should you need to. Even worse, there are many sites that simply copy what other authoritative sites have written, often misinterpreting valuable information.

Recently, my son woke up stomach ache, and I had to take him to the emergency room for what was in my view, was a serious condition. After a five hour visit, we were told it was just the stomach flu, and that it would go away soon. I started wondering if there was a informational service that could help me decide in the wee hours of the morning, if I really had to go. Here's what I found.

I stumbled across this free site called FirstAidHelp.info that is written by emergency doctors, in plain English. It's super easy to understand and they call it "practical first aid for everyone". The authors really try to give you enough pertinent information to help you decide whether you really need to go to the ER or not. Also, they give you easy to follow, step by step instructions for hands on first aid techniques.

The authors work in busy emergency departments, in real hospitals, so the information is straightforward and concise. They cover everything from hangnails to abdominal pain. They even have articles on setting dislocated fingers and basic suturing, should you be far away from a real ER. Keep in mind that you should always see a doctor, but these guys give you some good tips for things to do in the meantime!