Everyone, regardless of whether or not they will be employed as a first aider, should have some type of first aid training. There are many companies offering first aid training courses out there, some may be free but you need to pick the right training to make sure you can appropriately deal with any type emergency you or your family may encounter.
Making sure that you have rudimentary first aid training skills is in your best interests no matter what you are doing or what type of career you're planning. From school teacher to babysitter, to factory worker, everyone needs some level of first aid training in order to be prepared if the time comes when you are called on to help others. Sometimes having a first aid certificate is a pre-requisite to a job and is part of the essential criteria for recruitment.
So how do you pick the right first aid training course?
Firstly, make sure the first aid course is nationally and WorkCover approved and covers all of the relevant topics such as;
- Legal issues in first aid
- An overview of anatomy
- Guidelines for the assessment of the first aid situation and casualty
- DRSABCD
- Defibrillation or AED
- CPR
- Management of the unconscious casualty
- Management of respiratory emergencies such as; anaphylaxis, asthma, smoke and gas inhalation, choking, croup, hyperventilation
- Management of bites and stings
10. Management of bleeding and trauma
11. Management of burns and scalds
12. Management of medical emergencies
You will know if your course is nationally and WorkCover approved as it should have a course code such as: HLTFA301C – Apply First Aid.
Secondly make sure they provide you with a user friendly First Aid Guide.
Finally, make sure the training is practical, allows for you to practice your skills on a manikin and also in various first aid situations which are as close as possible to real life emergencies. The scenarios used should be varied and range from home to road or work emergencies.
Other things to check are whether they cover the following properly;
CPR-cardiopulminary rescusitation or cpr is the technique of chest compressions combined with rescue breathing. The purpose of CPR is to temporarily maintain circulation sufficient to protect the brain from damage if the heart is not able to perform the task independently. Cardiac compressions and rescue breathing take place manually, so that the body receives the fresh blood supply that it needs to carry oxygenation to the cells. When your body does not receive oxygen from the blood, the cells begin to die, causing the brain tissue to stop functioning. CPR is often used for those who have been underwater, as in a drowning, or for those who have suffered from a heart attack or massive stroke. In many cases, the application of CPR in a timely way can be life saving to the person who has no other way to receive air. It is really important that CPR is performed properly to get the best outcome.
AED, or automated external defibrillator, is a mechanical device that will attempt to straighten out an irregular rhythm. These AED machines are now available on the wall in many restaurants or in places of employment, as well as in a great many department stores. Knowing how to use them is a training that everyone should have. You can save a life by taking this type of first aid training. Check whether the use of AED is included in the first aid course you are contemplating and whether they have a training AED for you to use.
Basic First aid- Learning the basics of first aid, airway, breathing and circulation is something that all parents, teenagers, teachers, well everyone really should undergo. Stopping a wound from bleeding, helping a child to recover from a fall, knowing what to do in the event that you find someone unconscious or injured is imperative.
Basic first aid training is given by many emergency companies as well as by fire departments and other services. Find out where in your community you can take a basic first aid course and take one.
If you don’t have the money to pay for your course, check out whether there are any courses at a nominal cost or even free. But at the end of the day, the cost of a first aid course is money well spent. After all, what is the cost of a life, especially that of a loved one?
Remember that first aid training is not just for medical professionals. Accidents or illness can take place at any time. Know what to do and be prepared to help.
