Offering first and immediate attention to people suffering from any injury or illness requires some training. In basic terms, this is called first aid. First aid aims at preserving, preventing a condition from worsening, or promoting recovery. This first attention you offer includes initial intervention in severe conditions before a patient gets professional medical help. It may involve performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and managing minor ailments such as cuts.

Undoubtedly, first aid is a very important course. It gives you the knowledge and confidence to handle situations in the event of a medical emergency. You may save lives. Nowadays, most employees train their employees on how to carry out first aid.  In fact, in some places, it is a workplace requirement. You should note that first aid is an invaluable skill that you can have.

The key skills in First aid

There are specific key skills that are essential to the provision of effective first aid to the patients. As such, these skills must be taught ubiquitously. For instance, the skills denoted as ABC focuses on saving lives, especially under critical conditions.

  • A – Airway
  • B – Breathing
  • C – Circulation

That means that the first place to put your attention to is the airway by ensuring that it is clear since any obstruction is life-threatening.  This ensures there is breathing. For circulation assessment, the first aiders may perform chest compressions, to provide artificial circulation.

What happens in a first aid course?

The first aid course is extensive. Thus it is broken down into smaller sections to make it easier for the learners. Remember that not all first aid skill principles like applying an adhesive bandage as well as applying pressure on a bleed. You will learn such skills through practicals in the field.

That notwithstanding, for you to be able to provide adequate first aid help, you have thorough training and numerous practicals. This helps you to understand how to handle situations whenever they arise.

Certainly, you won’t be able to handle fatal injuries or illnesses without proper training and practice. To perform effective CPR, you’ll need to be trained. Such a procedure is invasive and delicate; it may cause harm to both the first aider and the patient.

For you to get training, you need to attend a course. Such courses almost always lead to certification. But, you will need to refresh every now and then because there are regular changes that occur due to constant changes in clinical knowledge and procedure. So a refresher course and recertification are essential.

You can get first aid training through various outlets. Most notable trainers of first aiders include community organisations such as St. John Ambulance and Red Cross Society, as well as other commercial training organisations. Usually, these trainers offer their services at a fee.

First aid that requires training

Enroll in emergency first aid courses in Melbourne. The training is vital to fulfilling some additional demands that are posed by the work situation. They include:

  • Mental health first aid: it encompasses learning to identify people are developing mental illness and how to help them.
  • Battlefield first aid: this training aims at training you how to deal with the wounded in the field of war – both combatants and non-combatants.
  • Wilderness first aid: first aiders taking this type of training are trained to take care of the wounded for several hours, given the constraints associated with wilderness.