Why First Aid and First Aid Courses Are So Important
Have you ever asked yourself what is the importance of first aid courses for my collegues? Within the workplace, many people have to complete first aid courses, and with good reason. Last year 1.3 million people in Great Britain suffered a work-related illness, while 142 people died in the workplace, according to Health and Safety Executive statistics. In Ireland, there were nearly 7,500 non-fatal workplace injuries in 2014.
From heart attacks to workplace injuries that are more common than you would imagine, you never know when an emergency is going to arise, but if there are people trained in first aid on hand, the severity of the emergency may be minimised. Proper first aid training can mean the difference between someone surviving an incident, and that person becoming a fatality in next year’s statistics.
Why take a course in First Aid?
Developing the ability to save someone else’s life is the most important reason to complete a first aid course, and to encourage employees to take one. Saving a life is something that you, and the person you save, will never forget. Although most people will rush forward to help in an emergency, a trained person will be much more confident and will know the right course of action to take. This can make the difference in a life or death situation because emergency services are not always able to get to the victim quickly enough to save them.
Another important reason for first aid courses and training is that they can help participants learn how to relieve or reduce pain. Some injuries will be relieved by an ice pack or a simple massage. Someone that has been trained in first aid will be able to distinguish a true emergency from a case in which proper pain relief should be given. While the person should be still treated by their GP later, it can help them avoid a trip to A & E and to rest comfortably while waiting for further treatment.
Finally, the last reason to complete first aid training is due to the fact that people who have been trained are more relaxed and confident during a trauma. When a trauma occurs, there is very little room for error, and people who do not know what to do tend to panic. Those with training will quickly take action and step in because they have been taught the correct way to proceed. This will help keep the victim of an injury stable long enough for the professionals to arrive and manage their condition.
