First Aid 101
Did you know World First Aid day is coming up on September 14th?
Nearly 40% of Canadians say they have been in an emergency situation where they have had to perform first aid, but yet only 18% were actually certified. With such a high prevalence of situations where lives have been in danger and first aid was necessary it's no wonder Red Cross has been calling on all Canadians to ensure they have the skills needed to save lives.
The term first aid refers to the assistance given to anyone suffering a sudden injury or illness. The main goal is to preserve life and prevent the sudden condition form worsening. First aid not only provides the knowledge and skills to respond to emergency situations, but also provides people the confidence to act when needed.
First aid can help you understand how to provide general understanding of first aid practices for a wide range of conditions including
- asthma
- burns
- choking
- diabetic emergencies
- external bleeding
- environmental emergencies
- heart attacks
- poisoning
- neck, head, and spinal injuries
- stroke
- seizure
Not only do you learn about the basics to save lives but you also learn to respond to a situation. For example, did you know there are three steps for emergency situations?
- Check the scene for danger: look for anything that might be dangerous. If your safety is at risk, remove yourself from the area and call for help. This could be anything like signs of fire, falling debris, or violent people.
- Call for medical help: Ensure to tell a nearby person to call 911 or the local number of an emergency medical service if it is needed
- Provide care: If you can do so safely, remain with the person in need until professional help arrives. Having basic first aid skills allows you to try and treat any life threatening injuries they may have.
Learn skills on how to bandage someone, apply first aid for burns, to provide CPR, for something as simple as bee stings, heatstroke, and learning first aid for babies and toddlers!
Red Cross is such a useful tool that provides so much information on basic things to even just look out for to help protect your loved ones. On their site you can learn about what should be in your kit, flu prevention, signs and symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, bike safety, cold-related emergencies and heat-related emergencies, and so much more. To learn more click here.
Stay tuned this week on our social media to learn more and on Saturday to learn about where you can access a class and what each level really means.
Resources
Red Cross- World First Aid Day
Guide
What is first aid
Healthline
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