Would you know what to do if your child mysteriously stopped breathing? Or your neighbour collapsed while mowing the lawn? Or your colleague started to choke on their lunch? These are just a few of the everyday emergency situations that ordinary people find themselves in. Stressful situations like this can happen when we least expect. When they do, a little first aid knowledge goes a long way in minimising injury, or even saving lives.
If first aid training has been on your to-do list for a while, now is a great time to strike it from the list. Here are four good reasons why you should add first aid to your repertoire:
Better than Batman: First Aid Saves Lives.
Put simply: first aid saves lives. For this fundamental reason, every home, workplace, school, vehicle and venue should be equipped with a decent first aid kit, and all of us – no matter what age, profession, or location – should undertake some basic first aid training so that we know how to put that kit to good use. Whether performing CPR or dressing a wound, correct first aid can mean the difference between life and death. You might save the life of a total stranger, or you might come to the rescue of your nearest and dearest. Either way, anyone who benefits from your quick-thinking first aid expertise will be forever thankful.
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Got This. Handle Emergency Situations With Confidence.
At some time in our lives, most of us will see something bad happen to someone in a public space: a heart attack, a nasty fall, a car accident, or maybe an assault. Many of us will be caught off-guard in these crisis situations, unsure what to do beyond calling emergency services. Nothing is more frustrating than watching someone suffer, and not knowing how to help. Worse still, there’s the chance that if you intervene with an incorrect response, you might even exacerbate the problem. But if you have first aid knowledge, you needn’t be a helpless bystander. You can step in with confidence, and take charge of the situation.
Hired! First Aid Puts You First in Line For the Job.
Basic first aid training just might be the skill that gets you across the line in your next job interview. If you think that the medical profession is the only place where first aid skills are necessary, think again. While hospitals and healthcare institutions are the main employers that expect staff to have first aid training, many other careers have a first aid prerequisite. The threat of medical emergency looms large in plenty of professions. First aid knowledge is vital for police officers, prison personnel, lab technicians, lifeguards, school and childcare staff, cabin crew and flight attendants. When you add first aid training to your skill set, you open the door to a whole range of new career prospects.
Share the Love: First Aid for the Whole Family.
Once you know what to do with the contents of your home first aid kit, you can pass on that knowledge to your children. First aid is not just for grown-ups. Kids are never too young to start learning the value of first aid. When you teach your children the basics of first aid, they can come to your rescue in an emergency situation, rather than watch on, confused. What’s more, when children start to understand the fragility of health and wellbeing, they are more inclined to take better care of themselves and navigate dangerous games and situations with caution.
First aid know-how is a necessity in the home, at work, on holiday and on the road. Wherever you go, whatever you do, a decent first aid kit combined with first aid skills will always come in handy.
Have you found yourself in a situation where first aid saved the day? Share your experiences and insights in the comments section below.
