Staying Alive First Aid Training

In an earlier post I mentioned that one important quality of a great first aider is excellent communication skills.

After chaecking for danger and making sure that it is safe for you to approach the casualty, what is the second thing that you should check for?

If you said a Response from the casualty then I’d agree with you. It’s important to talk to the casualty, even if they seem to be unconscious. There are a number of reasons for this:

It is generally accepted that the sense of hearing is one of the last to go so even if the casualty does not appear to be fully with you, it doesn’t meant that they can’t hear you. Tell them who you are and that you are a First Aider who is going to help them, whilst gently tapping their shoulders.

The casualty may be wondering what is going to happen to them and will be reassured if you tell them that you are going to help them.

Bystanders can often be relieved that someone is taking charge of a difficult situation and will usually do all they can to help you.

Strange as it may sound talking to someone can help you as well and will guide you through the process of help

Be professional in what you say. You are not there to diagnose a casualty or to offer a prognosis but to help them. I have been an unconscious patient and have heard doctors and nurses talking about me and it is not nice hearing them say how serious my condition is. All I wanted to know was ‘What are you going to do about it?’

So be as positive as you can be even if all you can offer is ‘We are going to call an ambulance for you and will look after you until it arrives.’

That kind of reassurance can be very helpful to a casualty (and everyone else around).

Now here’s a tricky question for you to ponder on:

Let’s say that you are a First Aider and you have been called to an incident. Who is the most important person to consider? Is it you or is it the casualty?

If you said it’s the casualty, then I would applaud you for your selflessness but you would be wrong.

You are in fact the most important person because let’s just suggest for a moment that the casualty has been electrocuted or poisoned by gas. The danger could still be there and could be harmful to you if you were to go rushing in without any regard to your own safety so you must check first that it is safe for you to approach the casualty. Always check for danger first. We don’t want two casualties!

What qualities should a good first aider posses?:

A) the ability to remain calm under pressure

B)resilience

C) excellent communication skills

D) a desire to help

E) all of the above

The answer is of course ’E all of the above.)

You may find yourself in a situation where someone is suddenly taken Ill or has suffered an accident. Lots of people panic in such situations and don’t know what to do.if you can remain calm and organise people, it is much easier to resolve the situation and help the casualty ina practical way.

If you can give clear instructions on what to tell the ambulance guys whilst reassuring your casualty, then your desire to help will have been deployed in an effective way