First Aid Training: Training Courses And The Importance Of Emergency Preparedness

Getting first aid training is more than just ticking a regulatory box, it is giving yourself the tools to respond to an emergency medical situation in your home, the workplace, or a public space. When you equip yourself with the skills and knowledge to provide effective first aid care, you can recognise and immediately take charge of emergency situations, and you may even save somebody's life.

In this article, we will cover the importance of emergency preparedness and cover a few different accredited first aid courses that EMCARE offers. First aid training gives you the confidence and skills to provide emergency care to your colleagues, family, friends and more.

A Brief Overview Of First Aid Training

The general idea behind first aid training is to equip you with the expertise and confidence to act immediately in situations that demand first aid care. A first aid training course covers the key medical emergency skills such as tending to wounds and bleeding, head and spinal injuries, choking, burns, and fractures.

A basic first aid course educates you on how to examine an injured or affected person, control excessive bleeding, reduce trauma and a range of other key skills needed to prevent the situation from escalating even further.

The golden rules of first aid can be summed up as follows: Act Immediately, apply a systematic approach, act as if the situation is serious until more information is gained. Finally, provide reassurance and request professional medical assistance as soon as possible.

Different courses offer different practical first aid skills, but there are three basic skills covered across the board. The skills include how to stop bleeding, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and setting a splint; these cover the most common and life-threatening medical emergencies that you may need to deal with.

First Aid Training Courses

EMCARE is a trusted and reputable training academy designed to assist individuals and teams in gaining the requisite skills and qualifications needed across different industries for first aid. All courses on offer from EMCARE are fully accredited with the relevant South African accreditation bodies. In the list below, we've covered a few of the key courses on offer.

Basic First Aid Refresher Course
The basic first aid training course is designed for those seeking to gain entry level knowledge surrounding first aid. Serving as the perfect introduction into widening your emergency expertise. In the course, a range of first aid aspects and skills are covered, and the full course takes one day to complete.

You earn a DOL/DME certificate that stays valid for three years. A few of the main hazards you will cover are burns, fractures, wounds and choking. You will also learn about the principles of emergency care and safety, scene management, CPR, how to use emergency care equipment and the legal and ethical implications.

Level 1 Course (FA1)
The FA1 course is among the most popular choices, as it generally meets the minimum requirements that companies and individuals need to meet when being inspected by governing bodies such as the department of labour. This first aid course is the first of three levels, providing people with an introduction to emergency care and equipping them with basic first aid knowledge needed in cases of emergencies.

The full course usually takes around one and a half days to complete and results in a certificate that stays valid for three years with DOL, DME, FPMSETA and HWSETA certifications available. During the course, you will have an opportunity to explore both the theory and practical components of effective first aid training. The course is prepared and delivered by registered healthcare professionals.

Level 2 Course (FA2)
The FA2 course is the next step of the three levels when it comes to first aid training, giving you broader knowledge on patient and emergency care. The course takes two and a half days to complete and like the above, the certification stays valid for three years. DOL, DME, FPMSETA and HWSETA certifications are available. This reputable intermediate first aid course goes into far more detail than level one, covering subjects including paediatric patients.

The course covers a revision of level one, child and infant CPR, chest and eye injuries, joint injuries, pelvic injuries, poison bites and stings, environmental injuries and infections, diabetes, epilepsy, applied anatomy and physiology, drowning and diving accidents, rescue carries and emergency equipment. After this course, you will be equipped to handle a wide range of incidents.

Level 3 Course (FA3)
The FA3 course is the final level of the three-part course and is the highest level of first aid training available. This course is highly recommended for those working in hazardous or dangerous injuries, workplace supervisors and people without easy access to healthcare services. The level 3 course covers additional emergency situations such as emergency childbirth, water-related concerns, emergency oxygen therapy, and practical demonstrations. The course is perfect for security professionals, emergency response teams and first responders.

The full FA3 course takes approximately four days to complete, and the certificate stays valid for three years. As is with the above, DOL, DME, FPMSETA and HWSETA certificates are available. You can take the course at any EMCARE branch, but it can be arranged to take place at a desired location for a group of ten or more individuals.

CPR and AED Course
The CPR and AED (automated external defibrillation) course is another incredibly popular choice, ideal for non-professional responders who need CPR and AED training, such as fitness staff, swimming coaches, and corporate, industrial and retail employees. The course is fully focused on emergency situations including the heart and respiratory system and educates learners on how to properly use an automated external defibrillator.

The course equips you with the knowledge needed to properly respond to emergency situations including the heart and respiratory system, educating you on how to respond to events of cardiac arrest, stroke, heart attack or any airway obstruction. With the skills you gain from this course, you can effectively treat the patient while waiting for professional emergency medical services to arrive. The course takes around half of one day to complete and stays valid for three years. ECSI and ASHI certificates are offered.

Get First Aid Training Certified With EMCARE

At EMCARE, we provide professional and accredited first aid training for all who need it. Whether for personal, workplace requirements or professional reasons - our courses come with certificates that are recognised and valid for up to three years. Reach out to EMCARE today to learn more about how we can assist.