First Aid

To answer that question, here are two questions to be answered.

1. What makes a great first aider?
2. How does a first aider gain the confidence to assist the sick or injured?

The answer is simple.

Great practical training allows students to practice their skills until they are confident is certainly the answer.

When students attend a first aid course, they all wonder how we would react in an emergency. That’s just human nature.

The skills that the first responder learns and remembers can be the difference between life and death in an emergency situation.

First aiders are required to face a variety of emergency situations and this calls for immediate action and some common sense.

A good first aider promptly responds to accidents in the right way. This is because during the emergencies every second counts, and an irrational response can cost the life of the injured person.

A calm response gives the victim reassurance that they know that the first aider knows what they are doing.

How do we teach first aiders to keep their ‘cool’ under pressure and be able to manage the situation.

If they panic, then they’re likely to make the situation much worse and cause the casualty further distress. So again the answer is building confidence by repetitive practical training.

This builds brain memory and you can act without thinking as you have practiced these skills in your training course.

A key skill in first aid is being able to recognise someone who needs quick emergency help.

A first aider should understand the limits of their skills and knowledge and be able to call for further help when required rather than try to ‘go it alone.

A first aider is taught to be able to provide first aid care up until the paramedics arrive.

Good practical training is necessary to allow the first aider to provide first aid in a confident manner.

A first aider would be required to act safely at the scene of emergency, it is easy to see why there is a need to also act quickly. A first responder must be able to quickly assess the situation and establish the potential risks to themselves and the victim.

For example, if at any time the risk from a hazard poses significant danger, they should consider whether approaching the victim is the best course of action.

Attending a first aid course allows the first aider to know that they are required to remain calm when the scene is often chaotic and uncontrolled.

When the first aider remains calm, this also works to assure the victim that you are confident in your first aid skills.

This provides reassurance to both the victims and other first responders that you know what you are doing.

Being able to communicate effectively with a victim also reassures the victim. Being able to understand how the victim would be thinking is a useful trait as it helps the responder understand that person’s perspective.

It’s an important consideration to try and tell the victim the truth.
Accidents are usually very unpleasant situations for everyone, especially for the victims. These are the times when everyone seems stressed, sad, and hopeless. During such times a kind and reassuring response can help the victims feel a little better.

A good first aider is very kind and comforting towards the victims. They are never harsh or indifferent. This is perhaps one of the major qualities of a good first aider and this alone can help a lot in calming down the stressful situation.

Attending a practical first aid course trains you to be in a better position to react confidently when a crisis happens and you feel confident that you now have the skills to assist confidently what ever the situation is.

When you are confident, then there is less panic as you have a plan.

Attending a practical first aid course should have the effect that the training you receive should allow you to be in a better position to react confidently when a crisis happens.

You should be able to leave the course and feel confident that you now have the skills to assist, whatever the situation is.