First Aid Training: 7 Reasons Why It Is Vital

Life can be unpredictable, and you never know when first aid training may come in handy. Having someone with first aid training around could save lives when disaster strikes and emergency medical care is necessary.

“First aid” refers to the first medical attention that is given immediately after an accident or an injury. It is viewed as only a short-term treatment that does not usually need years of training or specific technology.

Unfortunately, not a lot of people know how important knowing first aid can be. This usually is because people think that it is a job that would require formal education and that it is reserved for medical professionals. However, it is a life skill that we should all be trying to learn.

If you are interested in potentially learning first aid, EMCARE is here to assist you. We offer various comprehensive first aid training courses to help you learn the basics. Keep reading for 7 great reasons why first aid training should be at the top of your to-do list.

1 - First Aid Can Save Lives

Fast and proper administration of first aid can mean the difference between life and death in emergency situations. Taking this into account, the more people who have first aid training the more people that can assist in the event of an accident or medical emergencies occurring. Choking and heart attacks place thousands of people in danger every single year. These life-threatening situations can be reduced by learning more about the prompt care that is crucial in these situations.

2 - Accidents Can Happen At Any Time

Emergencies and accidents are things that can and do happen at any time, anywhere. This is something that is part of everyone's reality and something we should acknowledge and learn about so that we can always be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Sadly, no one will ever be able to predict where and when a disaster will strike. Accidents such as these can happen at work, at home, or during transit. This is the very reason why people must know basic first aid skills like disinfecting wounds, learning how to stop a bleed, and CPR.

3 - Every Second Counts

Did you know that the very first few minutes of most medical emergencies are the most crucial? It is so important because this is the step that will prevent any more injuries from occurring until full medical assistance can come. For example, when an individual experiences cardiac arrest, they only have roughly 3-4 minutes before oxygen stops travelling to the brain.

What you do in those few minutes can change the projection of that person’s life forever. The priority is, of course, phoning the ambulance. Nevertheless, if you can administer CPR in the meantime to mitigate the damage and significantly increase the victim’s chances of survival that would mean potentially saving a life.

4 - First Aid Reduces Victim's Recovery Time

Having experience in first aid training can significantly decrease the amount of time the victim spends healing. For example, if no one tries to help an injured, bleeding victim who is suffering from blood loss before medical aid comes, it may lead to serving problems like hemorrhagic shock caused by severe blood loss. Problems such as these will result in a long recovery time. It can even cause short-time or even permanent issues, like organ or tissue damage.

5 - It Relieves Discomfort And Pain.

So much pain is involved in the majority of accidents and injuries. Even situations that are not life-threatening can involve a lot of discomfort. Alleviating this discomfort and pain is another reason why it is important to learn first aid. A person who is medically trained can immediately assess the pain and make sure that the victim is as comfortable as possible until help arrives.

6 - It Can Save Your Own Life

Maybe the most captivating reason you should do first aid training is that it can also save your own life, especially if your profession puts you in danger or might cause significant health risks. If you have proper training in first aid, you will know to remain calm and collected in highly stressful situations. You will also be able to teach the person nearest to you what they should do if you are ever in a life-threatening situation. This is particularly important for people who have illnesses like epilepsy, narcolepsy, or diabetes.

7 - It Reduces Medical Expenses

If patients do not immediately receive proper first aid care their condition can easily deteriorate – and most times this happens quickly. Cases such as these produce more health issues which can consequently be very expensive. On the other hand, if you know what you are doing in a medical emergency, you will be able to decrease the risk of exacerbating the issue. You will save yourself a lot of time, hassle, and bills.

About EMCARE

EMCARE is a well-trusted health and safety training company located in South Africa. We have many establishments scattered all across the country, all of which are fully equipped to provide all of our students with the best training to ensure that they become effective firefighters. If you are interested in starting your first aid training course, visit your nearest EMCARE today!