First Aid Training For Schools: Preparing Educators and Students

The importance of having well-trained first aid specialists in schools should never be understated, hence the importance of first aid training. An emergency medical situation at school can be traumatising for students and teachers alike when no one is equipped with the necessary expertise and skills to provide effective and immediate first-aid assistance.

The nature of everyday life is unpredictable, and a normal day at school can quickly turn into a horrific scene when educators and students are not prepared to respond to a medical emergency. As such, it is key to have assigned first aid responders on your team. For educators and students, EMCARE offers accredited and professional first aid training to equip you with the skills and confidence to offer first aid care whenever it is needed. In this article, we cover the importance of first-aid training for schools and what each course entails.

Why First Aid Training Is Important In Schools

In school, everyone should feel safe and secure. With staff members and students who are trained to respond to emergency medical situations, you are creating a safer and more comfortable environment overall. Feeling safe at school is key to students getting the most out of their education.

Trained individuals can help prevent minor injuries from turning into major injuries by intervening early. When the response to an emergency medical situation is slow and uninformed, it can quickly escalate into something much worse. With teachers on hand who are trained and qualified to act in such situations, the situation can be controlled, and further damage can be avoided.

Parents and students are also given peace of mind when they know that there are trained professionals to assist in such situations. If the response to an injury or medical emergency is panic or uninformed actions, the school may also end up liable. For everyone involved, first aid training is essential in schools.

Basic First Aid Training/First Aid Refresher course

The basic first aid course is a great introductory course to first aid care and also serves as a good refresher course. The course itself offers entry-level knowledge of first aid care, serving as the first step to widening your emergency response expertise. The basic first aid training course is a popular choice for larger groups like schools and companies. Students and teachers alike can participate in this course.

The course takes approximately one day to complete, depending on the size of the group, and the DOL/DME certificate stays valid for three years. In this course, you learn how to treat burns, fractures, wounds, bleeding and choking. You are also equipped with the knowledge to respond to fainting and unconsciousness, artificial respiration and shock. In addition, the course covers the principles of emergency care and safety, emergency scene management, adult CPR, head and spinal injuries, using emergency care equipment, and the legal implications to keep in mind.

First Aid Level 1 Course

The First Aid Level 1 course is the first of the three first aid levels and usually serves as the minimum requirement that companies and individuals need for inspections from government bodies. The course itself covers all aspects of basic first aid and serves as an introduction to emergency care for learners. The full course takes around a day and a half to complete, and the certificate stays valid for three years.

In the course, the theoretical and practical components of first aid training are covered. All level 1 courses are delivered by registered healthcare professionals. The course dives deeper into the principles of emergency care and safety, including responding to artificial respiration, fractures, burns, shock, unconsciousness, choking, wounds and bleeding. Adult CPR, emergency care equipment and legal implications and ethics of emergency care are also covered.

First Aid Level 2 Course

The First Aid Level 2 course is the second of the three levels, equipping you with a broader scope of knowledge on patient and emergency care, and diving further into the intricacies of the topics covered in level one. The course also covers first aid care for paediatric patients, which may be particularly relevant for teachers and staff members in primary schools and pre-schools.

The course takes two and a half days to complete, and the certificate is valid for three years. The course covers topics such as child and infant CPR, one and two-rescuer CPR, chest and eye injuries, joint injuries, abdominal pelvic injuries, poisonous bites and stings, environmental illness and injuries, chest pain, diabetes, drowning and diving accidents, epilepsy and convulsions, and rescue carries. It also covers emergency equipment and revises the content covered in level one.

First Aid Level 3 Course

The First Aid Level 3 course is the final of the three first aid levels, covering advanced emergency care and first aid training. The course is often recommended for people who perform hazardous and dangerous jobs, workplace supervisors, and those who work in remote areas where access to healthcare is limited. As level 2 does not cover water-related emergencies, level 3 is an important course for teachers and education professionals, lifeguards, security guards and first responders.

As the highest level of first aid care, the course takes four days to complete, and the certificate stays valid for three years. Anyone enrolled in the course will be provided with learner manuals, training equipment and A4 presentation equipment. First and foremost, the course revises the content covered in levels 1 and 2. In addition, the course covers water-related emergencies, behavioural emergencies, emergency childbirth, and special patients and oxygen therapy. First Aid Level 3 includes practical demonstrations and exercises, as well as written and practical exams.

First Aid Training With EMCARE

EMCARE is well-equipped to provide first-aid training to teachers, education professionals and students. As a specialised health and safety training business, we offer accredited first aid training for all and pride ourselves on the standards of each course. We have training centres across the country, as well as a mobile training facility to meet you at the location of your choice.

To make sure teachers, education professionals, and even students are equipped with first aid training, get in touch with EMCARE. As leaders in the health and safety training industry, we are more than happy to assist!