First Aid courses /qualification.
Discussion
I passed a basic first aid course at school ,it was a compulsory part of a Duke of Edinburgh scheme, I then did more training when I started motorsport marshalling ,I also did a formal course for first aid at work .
95% of my use of first aid has been used at traffic accidents, mostly just minor stuff but a couple of times over the past 45yrs it has probably saved people from life changing episodes.
With this in mind ,I would love to see basic first aid taught in schools every year from 8-10yrs old .
I would also like to see a first aid qualification as a requirement to gain a driving licence.
Whats everybody's thoughts on this ?
95% of my use of first aid has been used at traffic accidents, mostly just minor stuff but a couple of times over the past 45yrs it has probably saved people from life changing episodes.
With this in mind ,I would love to see basic first aid taught in schools every year from 8-10yrs old .
I would also like to see a first aid qualification as a requirement to gain a driving licence.
Whats everybody's thoughts on this ?
Personally I don't agree You have to be the type that wants to help as its not everyone's cup of tea.
Having also been witness too some poor "trained first aiders" where I had to step in as they were having a negative impact on the casualty then there is no way of regulating the currency of the individuals. And as you know first aid changes each day on how you are meant to treat someone.
Having also been witness too some poor "trained first aiders" where I had to step in as they were having a negative impact on the casualty then there is no way of regulating the currency of the individuals. And as you know first aid changes each day on how you are meant to treat someone.
ecsrobin said:
You have to be the type that wants to help as its not everyone's cup of tea.
That suggests there's a type who consciously doesn't want to help, which is rather tragic.Putting aside for one moment the level of someone's training and abilities, the idea that someone would deliberately turn their back on someone needing assistance simply because they didn't feel like it is terrible.
It only takes a sniff of FA training to drastically increase someone's chances of survival, far less than it takes to pass a driving test for example, which people still seem to be pretty ropey at despite the outcome being more lethal than getting the number of chest compressions wrong when doing CPR.
Crossflow Kid said:
That suggests there's a type who consciously doesn't want to help, which is rather tragic.
Putting aside for one moment the level of someone's training and abilities, the idea that someone would deliberately turn their back on someone needing assistance simply because they didn't feel like it is terrible.
It only takes a sniff of FA training to drastically increase someone's chances of survival, far less than it takes to pass a driving test for example, which people still seem to be pretty ropey at despite the outcome being more lethal than getting the number of chest compressions wrong when doing CPR.
There are people who are good at this sort of thing (first aid), and people who are not. Along with remembering what you was told years ago.Putting aside for one moment the level of someone's training and abilities, the idea that someone would deliberately turn their back on someone needing assistance simply because they didn't feel like it is terrible.
It only takes a sniff of FA training to drastically increase someone's chances of survival, far less than it takes to pass a driving test for example, which people still seem to be pretty ropey at despite the outcome being more lethal than getting the number of chest compressions wrong when doing CPR.
If a person is not confident in carrying out first aid when the need arises, and knows exactly what to do, they are probably best not to carry out first aid, as they Could make things worse IMO.
There are also people like me who will pass out at the sight of blood and detached bodily parts, which is no use in trying to help someone!
Edited by Bristol spark on Tuesday 10th May 06:35
Being told by the Circuit Doctor ,an A&E consultant,that many people suffer respiratory problems or failure due to blocked airways that could be dealt with very very easily is what brought it home to me .
I personally think that it is just a confidence issue as to why some don't get involved .
I personally think that it is just a confidence issue as to why some don't get involved .
Crossflow Kid said:
ecsrobin said:
You have to be the type that wants to help as its not everyone's cup of tea.
That suggests there's a type who consciously doesn't want to help, which is rather tragic.Putting aside for one moment the level of someone's training and abilities, the idea that someone would deliberately turn their back on someone needing assistance simply because they didn't feel like it is terrible.
It only takes a sniff of FA training to drastically increase someone's chances of survival, far less than it takes to pass a driving test for example, which people still seem to be pretty ropey at despite the outcome being more lethal than getting the number of chest compressions wrong when doing CPR.
As it happens I've had to book onto a first aid course this summer to complete my Yachtmaster training, and I have no issues in stopping to help individuals.
ecsrobin said:
I don't know if it's the current line id have to check but certainly the Royal college of nursing advised its members not to assist people in the street due to the rise in people suing individuals for saving their lives but possibly leaving them with side affects.
Working with Cadets I am required to hold a First Aid qualification. Routinely for most people that will be something like First Aid at Work (FAAW) In order to teach Cadets to 'Youth First Aid' level then a different requirement stands (mainly because a lot of Company driven FAAW qualifications are not fully recognised in this arena). Routinely this is the St John's Ambulance Activity First Aid (AFA) qualification.
When I re-qualified last year I was told by the instructor (our Wing FA Officer, who is herself a qualified paramedic trainer) that the stipulation you mentioned above no longer stands and that, as a First Aider, you can not be sued for attempting to save someone's life.
Fortunately we are not the Good ol' US of A yet!
Personally I agree with grumpy, that it should be part of every child's education, although probably best to do simple first aid at primary school and maybe a little more in depth in secondary school
The stats below from Rospa, clearly support the need for a basic understanding of First Aid, if only for personal use at home with family members
With more and more pressure on the emergency services, it makes perfect sense to a basic understanding of what to do initially in the event of an accident
More accidents happen at home than anywhere else
• Every year there are approximately 6,000 deaths as the result of a home accident
• More than two million children under the age of 15 experience accidents in and around the home every year, for which they are taken to accident and emergency units
• Children under the age of five and people over 65 (particularly those over 75) are most likely to have an accident at home
• Over 76,000 children under the age of 14 are admitted for treatment of which over 40% are under 5 years of age
• Falls are the most common accidents, which can cause serious injury at any time of life. The risk increases with age
• More women than men over the age of 65 die as the result of an accident in the home
• Every year over 62 children under 14 die as a result of an accident in the home
• Around 25,000 under-fives attend A&E departments each year after being accidentally poisoned
• An average of 13 children a day under the age of 4 suffer a severe injury from a burn or a scald. A hot drink can still scald a small child up to 15 minutes after it is made
• More accidents happen in the lounge/living room than anywhere else in the home.
• Every year more than 4,200 children are involved in falls on the stairs and 4,000 children under the age of 15 are injured falling from windows
• Boys have more accidents than girls
• The cost to society of UK home accident injuries has been estimated at £45.63billion (£45,630million) annually.
The stats below from Rospa, clearly support the need for a basic understanding of First Aid, if only for personal use at home with family members
With more and more pressure on the emergency services, it makes perfect sense to a basic understanding of what to do initially in the event of an accident
More accidents happen at home than anywhere else
• Every year there are approximately 6,000 deaths as the result of a home accident
• More than two million children under the age of 15 experience accidents in and around the home every year, for which they are taken to accident and emergency units
• Children under the age of five and people over 65 (particularly those over 75) are most likely to have an accident at home
• Over 76,000 children under the age of 14 are admitted for treatment of which over 40% are under 5 years of age
• Falls are the most common accidents, which can cause serious injury at any time of life. The risk increases with age
• More women than men over the age of 65 die as the result of an accident in the home
• Every year over 62 children under 14 die as a result of an accident in the home
• Around 25,000 under-fives attend A&E departments each year after being accidentally poisoned
• An average of 13 children a day under the age of 4 suffer a severe injury from a burn or a scald. A hot drink can still scald a small child up to 15 minutes after it is made
• More accidents happen in the lounge/living room than anywhere else in the home.
• Every year more than 4,200 children are involved in falls on the stairs and 4,000 children under the age of 15 are injured falling from windows
• Boys have more accidents than girls
• The cost to society of UK home accident injuries has been estimated at £45.63billion (£45,630million) annually.
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