First Aid Training

The notion of first aid refers to providing initial care for injuries or illnesses that can pose a life threatening risk, and although the first aid is performed by an expert in the field, it can be done by regular people who have undergone specialized first aid training in the past. The purpose of first aid is to help the patient stay stable until he can get definitive and professional medical treatment, and in most cases the first aid consists of essential techniques that can turn out to be real life savers and they can be performed with minimal medical equipment. The first aid can be performed both on animals and on people, although it often refers to people.

First aid training is designed for everybody – you do not need to be a medical professional to enroll in a training course, and virtually everybody can do it from babysitters and teachers to parents and regular people. Also, in some cases, people who work with dangerous machinery or who are constantly exposed to some degree of risk may be required to undergo professional first aid training as well, along with those who spend a lot of time outdoors.

What Does the Training Teach You?

The training basically offers a brief overview of aspects like remote first aid (first aid that is typically applied in the wilderness), standard and basic first aid, emergency medical response and such. At the same time, there are several different specialties you can opt for, from lifeguard training and blood borne pathogens training to babysitter training, first responder in the workplace or instructor certification.

A Closer Look at the Most Common Types of First Aid Training

First aid is a very broad field that encompasses several different disciplines, and the oxygen first aid is by far the most common and the most important one, as it encompasses life-saving techniques that must be applied to those who suffer from hypoxia (people who cannot breathe properly, be it because of an injury or because of an illness). If applied correctly and in a timely manner, the first aid can restore the oxygen intake and save the life of the patient.

The marine first aid, on the other hand, is usually designed for diver rescue as well as for lifeguards, as these professionals are taught the basic techniques they can use for water-based rescue. For example, when a person is about to get drowned and water entered their lungs (thus preventing them from breathing properly), the first aid can save their life.

The wilderness first aid is aimed at emergency responders as well as at those who work outdoors in emergency services. Wilderness first aid services are often vital for people who spent several hours or days in the wilderness and this resulted in various physical injuries (such as those triggered by cold).

However, it must be said that first aid is not aimed exclusively at physical problems, as some techniques are especially designed for mental health problems as well – those who undergo mental health first aid training are taught how to support a patient who is in the middle of a mental health crisis and how to identify the signs and symptoms of a mentally ill person.