First Aid Training For Caregivers

First aid training is highly beneficial for everyone and extremely useful in any career. However, regarding caregivers, the benefits of first aid training are enormous. The better prepared you are to deal with emergencies and injuries, the better you can care for your clients. First aid knowledge will equip caregivers with the necessary skills to effectively keep themselves and others safe and is often a mandatory requirement for professional caregivers. This article will take you through the importance of first aid training for caregivers and some of the top benefits you can expect from completing a course.

What Is First Aid Training?

First aid training is a specialised course that teaches ordinary people how to provide emergency assistance and care to people who have had accidents or injuries. During emergencies, a medical professional or ambulance can take over 10 minutes to arrive. In this case, having someone with adequate first aid skills can drastically change the situation's outcome and save lives. Usually, first aid procedures can be completed without any specialised equipment, making it easily accessible to all, no matter where you are. First aid training usually focuses on three main aspects of emergency care including:

• Saving Life: Most emergencies are under extreme time pressure, especially when it comes to scenarios where it is crucial to stop excessive bleeding or clear the airways of a person choking. First aid procedures can help keep people in these emergencies alive until medical professionals arrive.
  
  
• Stop a situation from worsening: By stopping bleeding or ensuring an injured person is immobilised, someone trained in first aid can prevent the emergency from worsening until help arrives.
  
  
• Encourage Healing: Following the correct first aid procedures can promote healing and speed up recovery from minor injuries, such as treating cuts and burns. In many cases with minor injuries, first aid training may be all that is necessary.

Why Is First Aid Training Important For Caregivers?

The roles and responsibilities of caregivers can vary depending on the job and the situation. Because of the various circumstances they may need to handle, being prepared with first aid training can be considered essential. Most of the time, a caregiver is professionally hired to give specific care to someone who needs assistance and cannot fully care for themselves. Caregivers can also be ordinary family members who look after their loved ones. Caregivers need to understand basic first aid to treat any injuries and adequately assist their clients. Usually, people in need of caregivers are:

• The Elderly
  
  
• People with disabilities
  
  
• Young children
  
  
• People with chronic illness

Benefits of First Aid Training For Caregivers

Completing a first aid course should be prioritised by any caregiver, whether you are a professional carer or a family member caring for a loved one. As a carer, it becomes your responsibility to protect and look after an individual in need, and first aid can benefit your position in many ways.

#1 Create A Safer Environment

Understanding first aid can help you create a safe living environment for the person you are caring for and yourself. Knowing how to care for patients with injuries or illnesses increases safety and creates a healthy and secure living space. Patients will feel well-looked after learning they are looked after by someone with the right skills to deal with emergencies.

#2 Know How To React In An Emergency

Knowing how to react in an emergency is crucial to a successful outcome. Emergencies require carers to take decisive action quickly and without hesitation. Completing a first aid course can equip caregivers with the knowledge and skills to identify the severity of an injury and effectively get them to an emergency room if needed. Sometimes, lifesaving techniques such as CPR and defibrillation during cardiac arrest are required on the spot. Caregivers can often perform these techniques and prevent sudden death with proper training.

#3 Recognise How Dangerous A Situation Is

With adequate training, a caregiver can easily recognise how dangerous a situation is and if immediate medical attention is necessary. With many minor injuries, caregivers can look after an injury at home without emergency medical attention. Minor burns and cuts can easily be treated at home. Caregivers can prevent them from becoming more severe when looked after properly. If you are faced with an emergency, understanding the dangers of a situation also allows caregivers to provide care to the patient immediately until medical professionals arrive. Understanding how to properly use available items and items in the first aid kit will prevent the situation from worsening until help arrives.

#4 Improve Your Confidence As A Caregiver

If you are confident in your first aid skills, you can be confident in your ability to care for your patients in emergencies. You will be prepared to face a crisis should it arise, and this will leave you and your patients feeling safe and secure. Emergencies can also be highly stressful and traumatic, but being confident in your skills can make a substantial difference in a stressful situation. It is essential to remain calm to benefit both caregivers and patients.

Why Choose An EMCARE First Aid Course

EMCARE training company is trusted and recognised across South Africa as a leading training facility. We offer world-class training with establishments across the country. All facilities are fully equipped to provide students with the best possible training and education. With our first aid training courses, we understand the importance of learning skills that could change the outcome of life-threatening situations. Our training provides all the skills needed to ensure our students receive favourable results. Our instructors are experienced and highly qualified to offer you the best coaching and training you could ask for. Our emergency medical training courses include:

• Basic First Aid / First Aid Refresher
  
  
• First Aid Level 1 Course (FA1)
  
  
• First Aid Level 2 Course (FA2)
  
  
• First Aid Level 3 Course (FA3)
  
  
• CPR And AED Course (AED)
  
  
• HIV/AIDS Awareness Course (AAT)

Don't hesitate to contact us and sign up for one of our first aid courses today.