First Aid Priorities

First Aid Priorities

Although we all take safety precautions in our everyday lives, emergencies can always arise. For this reason, it is important to be knowledgeable about First Aid so you can be prepared to act if an accident were to occur.

First Aid is defined as the medical attention that is given to an ill or injured person before medical experts arrive on the scene. OSHA details First Aid care to include cleaning minor cuts and scratches, treating burns, helping to relieve heat stress, and more.

Not a day goes by that there is not some potential for injury, illness, or sudden health emergency to occur in the places where we live, work, learn, and play. While many of these situations require no more than a Band-Aid, others are more serious and may even be life-threatening. Knowing what to do when an accident happens or when someone becomes suddenly ill can help ensure that minor injuries don’t develop into major medical conditions. More importantly, it can save a life.

Who Should Know First Aid?

First aid instruction is usually required for those in certain professions, such as nurses, teachers, and law enforcement officers. But anyone can and should learn first aid skills. The American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, and several other agencies provide first aid courses in locations throughout the nation.

Before taking a first aid course, it is a good idea to think about what personal qualities are useful when responding to a possible medical emergency. You need to be able to remain calm in an intense situation, and to assist the victim to remain calm. You must have good observational skills, both to assess what you need to do to assure your own safety during an emergency situation and to quickly assess the medical situation. It is also good to be methodical. You must be able to prioritize steps in each situation and then follow through until medical help arrives.

This course follows updated, Accepted guidelines and is designed to provide you with basic First Aid skills that will allow you to make a sound decision in the face of an emergency.