First Aid Course: Women's Reproductive Health In War Zones

A first aid course can teach life-saving skills during emergencies. An emergency that might not be anticipated, but is currently prominent in war zones, is complications and lack of medical care for women during childbirth. Women who are pregnant can face life saving consequences when there is no access to medical treatment. This is why a first aid course should be encouraged as a life skill, to protect loved ones and those in danger.

EMCARE's first aid courses, particularly at level three, provide integral skills and training in relation to emergency childbirth. EMCARE offers three levels of first aid courses that can help increase your ability to respond to emergencies in a variety of situations and circumstances.

In this article, we discuss the first aid course skills that are beneficial in the case of an emergency childbirth, and how EMCARE's first aid training is worthwhile.

Impact Of War On Reproductive Health

Currently the war in the Palestinian region has seen a dramatic increase in danger for women and their reproductive health. Over the last few decades, women have had to experience forced at-home childbirths, complications during childbirth and death. During this time 94,000 Palestinian women lacked access to sexual and reproductive health services. According to UNICEF, 25% of women are at risk of death during childbirth. This means that 14000 women need specialised health care during childbirth. Since specialised healthcare is not easily accessible, women are having more dangerous births at home with premature babies, who face respiratory infections and congenital malformations.

However, in the last few months, the consequences of war and lack of medical assistance have exacerbated the situation. Over 150 women are expected to give birth every day in Palestine, and 15% are predicted to need further medical care. Since the first 105 days of the war, 20,000 babies have been born in dire conditions. The percentage of women who are at risk of death has skyrocketed from 25% to 40%. Facilities, medical care and hospitals lack the staff and ability to help every pregnant woman. Consequently, midwives have been taking on the medical care of child births during the war.

A first aid course and training are valuable in this sort of situation as it increases the amount of people who can deliver professional emergency medical care. A first aid course can equip the population to help their loved ones and high-risk individuals like pregnant women during times of instability. It is a crucial skill to possess, and training in first aid goes beyond just the knowledge of childbirth - it extends to understanding and treating more injuries. Below are some of the valuable things you will learn:

1. Emergency Childbirth
   Firstly, in first aid level three you will learn how to handle emergency childbirth. In South Africa, 106 women in every 100,000 die during childbirth. Understanding childbirth is valuable knowledge in our country and communities. EMCARE first aid training has advanced training and allows those who live and work in hazardous environments to be qualified first responders.
   
   This course is ideal for police, firemen, teachers, security professionals and emergency responders. This is why encouraging a first aid course in a variety of workplace environments is so instrumentally valuable. By building up the community with first aid courses, you are creating a more safe and mutually protective environment.
   
   
2. Wounds And Bleeding
   Another skill set that can be taught in a lower-level first aid course is how to handle wounds and bleeding. This is a module that will be taught at level 1. Most childbirth-related deaths are due to wounds and bleeding, but beyond that - knowing how to treat and aid in the case of any wounds and bleeding is beneficial in any work environment.
   
   
3. CPR
   First aid courses at levels one and two teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). CPR trains you in chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth techniques. With the first two levels of our first aid courses, you are taught how to do CPR with one or two rescuers. At level three, you are taught child and infant CPR. This is important in the possible care of premature births or complications during childbirth. Additionally, CPR as a life competency can be extremely beneficial in worst-case scenarios. Learning about medical care will always provide more help than harm, so why not sign up with EMCARE to receive expert training in first aid!

EMCARE's First Aid Course

EMCARE is a health and safety training company, with branches all across South Africa. We can provide the professions mentioned above training and first aid courses that can teach them invaluable skills. Not only that but for groups above ten, facilitators in local languages can be requested. With our branches all across the country, we not only bridge language barriers - but also geographical ones. Upon inquiry, EMCARE can also send instructors out to your premises, making it easier than ever to receive health and safety training. Our first aid courses are also instructed by highly qualified and accredited healthcare professionals. So, get in touch with EMCARE to learn more about how we can equip you with valuable aptitudes!

Get In Touch

Beyond childbirth in war zones, pregnancy poses great risks to the health and safety of women. It is imperative that more occupations encourage first aid training to aid in protecting and providing medical care to the community. Whether at work or home, being able to respond to emergencies with qualified and practical knowledge is priceless. Don't let national and international conflict have to occur before you are equipped with life-saving mastery. Get in touch with us and we will help you master medical care with our first aid course.