There are a wide variety of first aid courses available and what you will learn will typically vary. There are a few basic procedures that are always taught, but the overall course will depend on the instructor. However, if you are faced with a medical emergency a first aid course should give you the confidence to deal with the situation until the emergency services arrive. It’s true to say that when faced with an emergency situation many people panic and forget what they have learnt, although even remembering a few basic things could easily be the difference between life and death. This post will introduce you to some of the basic techniques you will learn on a first aid course.
Burns
You will learn exactly how to treat burns, but the course will equally focus on the things you definitely shouldn’t be doing. A prime example of this is that a burn should be cooled, but whatever you do never apply ice to the affected area. You will also learn to leave a blister as it is, you shouldn’t apply any form of antiseptic, but simply cover the area with a sterile cloth.
Wounds
A first aid course will cover the basics around caring for a wound. This will include how to care for wounds, such as fractures, sprains and how to control bleeding.
Splints
You will discover exactly how to apply splints to various areas of the body, including arms, legs and hands. You can use a variety of materials to manufacture a splint until the paramedics arrive and you will be taught how to produce splints from normal everyday objects, such as towels, cardboard and even newspapers.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia can be a real killer if not dealt with immediately and waiting for the emergency services to arrive may simply be too late. You will learn basic techniques about hypothermia during a first aid course, such as removing any wet clothing from the victim and then wrapping them in warm and dry materials. You will also learn that you should give them a warm and sweet drink and if possible put them into a warm bath.
Head-to-toe
One of the most important aspects of providing first aid is knowing exactly what is wrong with the victim. You will learn how to check their entire body therefore allowing you to determine exactly what sort of treatment is required. This will include checking for shock, making sure the victim’s airways are not obstructed, as well as checking the body for signs of bleeding.
Nasal Injuries
Many victims may have suffered a nasal injury and here you will learn the importance of keeping them calm at all times, as well as keeping the airways open by making sure they keep their head forward. The more agitated a victim becomes, the more likely increased blood flow is, which will simply increase the likelihood of blood pouring from a nasal injury.
These are the basic things that you will learn on a first aid course and of course you will be introduced to CPR. These are some very important strategies and techniques for any individual to learn and just knowing these things could be the difference between life and death. There are many organizations who offer courses nowadays and it’s fairly simple for you to enroll.
[box_light]The author of this post, Catherine Jones, is an entrepreneur and she often writes for Heart Smart CPR which provides CPR classes in and around Texas. In her free time, she enjoys playing billiards.[/box_light]
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