Level 3 First Aid Training: What Does it Entail?

First aid training can be lifesaving in emergencies. But unfortunately, the truth is that emergencies can happen at any moment in any environment, and there is generally very little time to prepare oneself to meet those challenges head-on. At EMCARE, we understand that some situations can be worse than others, and training should reflect the emergencies that people are prepared to respond to. So for those brave souls willing to handle every situation, we offer our level 3 first aid training course.

The following article will delve into some of the emergencies our level 3 first aid training will cover and how one is trained to handle those situations. We believe that being prepared can save lives.

Emergency Childbirth

One of the most complicated and high-stress situations is emergency childbirth. Emergency childbirth is when the mother can not reach professional healthcare services or a hospital before giving birth and is forced into having the baby in an unknown or unsuitable location. EMCARE’s level 3 first aid training deals with these situations, with a whole module (including practical exercises) dedicated to this situation.

Emergency childbirth requires those helping to make quick decisions and be able to improvise depending on the environment they are in. Therefore, having training in this sort of scenario is critical, so let us look at some of the basic steps one will be required to learn:

1. Call for emergency services – Even though you may need to take charge of the situation, it is still essential that you contact emergency services so that they can assist in the future, even if it is only after delivery.
   
   
2. Assess the situation – You should then check the mother’s condition and determine whether other medical complications are involved, e.g. is the mother conscious and responsive.
   
   
3. Prepare the environment – Make sure that the place where the mother is giving birth is devoid of anything that could threaten the mother or baby’s health.
   
   
4. Assist with the delivery – This involves coaching and supporting the mother through the birth-giving process.
   
   
5. Catch the baby – Once the baby’s head appears, it is vital to support it and help gently guide the baby out.
   
   
6. Clamping and cutting – This refers to the clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord. It is important to remember to cut between the sterile clamps.
   
   
7. Stimulate breathing – The baby may need help with its first breaths. This can be encouraged by gently rubbing the baby’s back.
   
   
8. Provide postpartum care – Ensure the mother and baby are warm, clean and safe until professional health care services arrive.
   

Water Related Emergencies

Your level 3 first aid training will also look to prepare you for water-related emergencies. There needs to be a concise definition of what this involves, as there are many different situations you could find yourself in around bodies of water. Whether for work or recreation, bodies of water can lead to many dangerous encounters.

These encounters can vary greatly depending on the type of water body. Some situations you may encounter in the ocean may be less likely in a river or lake, but a river may have its own set of emergencies; you may not find it in a swimming pool. At EMCARE, our training can’t prepare you for every water-based emergency you may encounter. Still, we will train you on some of the most common water-based emergencies that can occur in any body of water and how you can take charge in those scenarios. Let us look at some examples you may cover in your first-aid training:

1. Drowning or near drowning: Did you know that drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death worldwide? Well, with your EMCARE first aid training, you will learn how to respond to drowning victims, which generally includes CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
   
   
2. Hypothermia: This occurs when your internal body temperature drops below a natural and safe level, after which damage to limbs and nerves begins, which may lead to irreversible damage or even death. First aid training will teach you how to recognise the signs of hypothermia early and how to treat it.
   
   
3. Boating accidents: These are usually physically taxing and can result in serious bodily harm or death. During your first aid training, you will learn how to handle these sorts of accidents and provide support for broken bones, spinal and head injuries or, as mentioned above, drowning.
   

Emergency Oxygen Therapy

Another treatment that can be commonplace in a variety of settings is emergency oxygen therapy. Emergency oxygen therapy is used to treat those who are struggling to breathe or suffering from oxygen deprivation. The use of emergency oxygen therapy requires equipment like oxygen cylinders or portable oxygen concentrators. It is administered to the victim through a face mask or nasal cannula connected.

Furthermore, the amount of oxygen that should be given can depend on the severity of the situation. The above is an apt description of emergency oxygen therapy. It highlights the complex nature of the procedure, as not only is one required to know how to use oxygen cylinders, concentrators, masks and cannulas but also be able to judge how much oxygen is needed. At EMCARE, we understand how complex this can seem, so during our level 3 first aid training; we spend considerable time training all our attendees on emergency oxygen therapy.

Level 3 First Aid Training – A Life Saver

We care about the safety of all people at EMCARE, so we put our all into giving our students the best first-aid training in South Africa. So if you want to be prepared for healthcare emergencies in the future and want to help out where you can, don’t delay, find EMCARE online or visit one of our many branches and sign up for first aid training now!