There are no boundaries when it comes to people and injuries. People can be injured on a playground, at a sporting event or swimming pool, or even in traffic. Knowing how to treat a serious bite, burn or other injury can help someone feel better quickly. Knowing how to provide first aid to a poison victim or the victim of a heart attack may help to save a life.
Location
First Aid training can be taken virtually through an online course. One can also sign up to receive relevant first aid training via email messages. In person first aid training is available at community locations such as local YMCAs. Check to see if a company or organization offers basic first aid training to employees or members.
Sources
Some great sources for basic first aid training would be the American Red Cross, the National Safety Council and the American Heart Association. The Red Cross offers certifications and also household and other emergency preparedness courses which can accompany basic first aid training. It also offers training to professional rescuers. The National Safety Council is a great resource for first aid information and also content for first aid kits.
Content
Learning how to stop excessive bleeding and dealing with harmful bug or snake bites are often covered in basic first aid training. Other items that may be covered under basic first aid training would be heat exhaustion, head injuries, heart attacks, choking, debris in the eye, burns and poisoning. Reviewing the contents of first aid kits would also be beneficial to cover in basic first aid training.
Time Frame
Online first aid training can be taken at any time remotely from a computer. If a home computer is not available, take first aid training on a public computer at a library or a school. Depending on the content, first aid training can be taken in one evening or span the course of a few evenings or weekends. If the first aid course discusses basic aid and prevention, the material can be covered quickly. If the course covers CPR and other more advanced types of first aid, the training may be held over a period of time.
Procedures
Knowing a few general first aid procedures can help if you are administering aid in a variety of situations. Look for courses that teach participants the general procedures to take if someone becomes injured. These are actions that should be taken immediately before proceeding to more specific types of aid. Some specific procedures that should be covered are the importance of stopping bleeding by applying pressure to the wound using a bandage or clean cloth. Other general items to look for are how to determine if a person is in shock and how to properly immobilize an injured person.
Warning
Before signing up for the course, make sure the trainer uses personal protective gear when instructing participants in first aid procedures. Participants should wear gloves whenever possible and use mouth coverings when learning how to administer CPR. Check to make sure the class covers personal protection when administering aid and, if you are attending an in-person class, make sure there is material on hand so you can protect yourself while practicing these methods in the class. You may even want to bring your own.
Knowing how to properly administer first aid can be valuable to an injured person. Take the time to learn how to find quality first aid training. Someone's life may depend on it.
Susan Ayers - Susan Ayers, a former Training Designer for Circuit City Stores, Inc., is a freelance writer in Richmond, Virginia. Susan is the Richmond ...
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