First Aid Course

[thesaint sfc]

Saw a young 11 year old boy knocked off his bike this morning. Looked like a broken leg or worst to me. He could barely move and was in agony. The driver collapsed by the side of the road crying and didn't have a clue what to do. A few other drivers had stopped to help and had called an ambulance and were comforting the little lad. So I've decided to go on a first aid course so that if I ever see anything like that again or similar I can at least get involved and help until the ambulance arrive. I feel pretty f*cking lousy.

 

Has anyone taken a course before? How much do they tend to cost? Are they easy? How long do they take?

[Hatch]

Volunteer to be first aid rep at work, it will cost nothing then.

[saint_stevo]

What hatch said. Every workplace needs F.Aid qualified people about, put yourself forward

[thesaint sfc]

How do you put yourself forward? Do you go to where they do first aid courses and say 'hello, i'd like to be my works first aid rep'.

[Smirking_Saint]

How do you put yourself forward? Do you go to where they do first aid courses and say 'hello, i'd like to be my works first aid rep'.

 

I would imagine so, as long as the position isn't already filled. Don't think they are that much.

 

I had to do one through work, problem is these days they tell you not to use anything you have learnt in case you get sued.

 

What a wonderful world we live in

[Hatch]

How do you put yourself forward? Do you go to where they do first aid courses and say 'hello, i'd like to be my works first aid rep'.

 

 

Ask HR, you may already have a designated rep , so you may need to arrange for them to have a nasty accident so you can step into their shoes.

 

It's a Tough world out there.

[4737_carlin]

It costs around £250 for a first aid course which in time you have to requalify. St Johns ambulance normally run courses covering allsorts of stuff inc work related/personal.

[thesaint sfc]

They do one at my local leisure centre I think. I work for a bill and bob company with 5 people so I there is no risk of anyone else having already done it!

[4737_carlin]

http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/

[Thedelldays]

I am first aid qualified and be careful...people HAVE sued in the past 'first aiders' helping them...

[thesaint sfc]

http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/

 

Thanks but I really don't have a clue which one to click on?

 

Is it emergency aid for appointed person under the work heading? Or Emergency and basic first aid under first aid for all? Or there's about 3 other possibilities...

[rocknrollman no2]

Im the first aider at work and its free to apply for.

The first course they send you on is for four days,then you have to do refresher courses every year which are for two days.

But a word of caution.

Be careful if you apply treatment to anyone,because you can be sued if anything goes wrong,or you dont do something right.

If you dont want to go through your place of work,then the Red Cross do good first aid courses which are reasonably priced.

[Redbul]

I'm a First Aider at work. You volunteer and go on a 3 day course and then have refreshers every 3 years. Most places of work welcome the services of First Aiders.

 

Rocknrollman's advice is unfortunately right, but you'll be advised of your limitations when you do the course, but in my experience if you don't make the situation worse then you haven't done much wrong!!!!

 

But it is very gratifying. I have had everything from "Got a plaster mate?" to full CPR and latterly CPR with a defib.

 

With your experience today you probably wouldn't have had to do much but keep a watching brief on the nipper to make sure he didn't go into shock and keep him comfortable and also keep tabs on the driver to make sure he didn't keel over. In situations like that the injured parties know how to make themselves comfortable so listen to them. And only get involved if it's safe to do so....

 

Anyway, do the course, you'll love it and it can be very satisfying and worthwhile. More people should tbh....

[Smirking_Saint]

I'm a First Aider at work. You volunteer and go on a 3 day course and then have refreshers every 3 years. Most places of work welcome the services of First Aiders.

 

Rocknrollman's advice is unfortunately right, but you'll be advised of your limitations when you do the course, but in my experience if you don't make the situation worse then you haven't done much wrong!!!!

 

But it is very gratifying. I have had everything from "Got a plaster mate?" to full CPR and latterly CPR with a defib.

 

With your experience today you probably wouldn't have had to do much but keep a watching brief on the nipper to make sure he didn't go into shock and keep him comfortable and also keep tabs on the driver to make sure he didn't keel over. In situations like that the injured parties know how to make themselves comfortable so listen to them. And only get involved if it's safe to do so....

 

Anyway, do the course, you'll love it and it can be very satisfying and worthwhile. More people should tbh....

 

From what i have been told, more places should have one of these beauties !! They TBH keep people alive more than anything else.

 

I have to agree, doing a course will be very self gratifying, BUT beware the warnings, people have sued over people trying to help them.......... c*nts

[Barney Trubble]

In some Scandinavian countries, basic First Aid is taught at schools, as it's part of the school curriculum.

 

I think it should be on ours as well, as well as bringing back the Green Cross Code at primary age level, I don't think that's part of the curriculum now either.

 

First Aid is full of bureaucracy too, on one course I did, albeit a few years ago, I was told that people have a right to be injured/die and refuse treatment if they wish or their religious beliefs dictate so. Pretty much saying you have to ask permission to help them. Maybe that's all changed though now and common sense has prevailed.

[J Bizzle]

 

First Aid is full of bureaucracy too, on one course I did, albeit a few years ago, I was told that people have a right to be injured/die and refuse treatment if they wish or their religious beliefs dictate so. Pretty much saying you have to ask permission to help them. Maybe that's all changed though now and common sense has prevailed.

 

Only in the case of giving medication, blood transfusions etc.... none of which you do in first aid.

[Mole]

I thought about becoming a first aider at work until gay Phil had a fit in the canrteen. Had i been a first aider i would have been expected to assist and the thought made me feel physically sick. I'd like to know the basics though and i think everyone should.

[Smirking_Saint]

I thought about becoming a first aider at work until gay Phil had a fit in the canrteen. Had i been a first aider i would have been expected to assist and the thought made me feel physically sick. I'd like to know the basics though and i think everyone should.

 

???? So you would let him die then ??

[hamster]

Where I work we have a couple of full First Aid trained staff and the rest of us recive 'Emergency Aid' training. It is basically about the ABC Airway, Breathing, Circulation. Covers recovery position which is a life saving technique to learn if someone is not conscious, and really easy to learn and remember.

 

One of the lesser known 'tips' is to always carry a soluble aspirin in your bag/wallet, if you suspect that someone has had or is having a CVA (heart attack) pop it into their mouth and you really could save their life with that one small act.

 

They will teach that it is better that 10 people dial 999 than everyone to assume that someone has already called them, and although you might think it to be nigh on impossible, keep calm. Although, if you ever find yourself in an emergency situation, as soon as you 'take control' you will find that your heart beat slows down and you will deal with it better than you thought you might. Most people do stand and watch, but you can also put them to good use regarding directing traffic, clearing the area or something as simple as fetching a blanket or pillow.

Edited 11 July, 2009 by hamster

[Redbul]

Where I work we have a couple of full First Aid trained staff and the rest of us recive 'Emergency Aid' training. It is basically about the ABC Airway, Breathing, Circulation. Covers recovery position which is a life saving technique to learn if someone is not conscious, and really easy to learn and remember.

 

One of the lesser known 'tips' is to always carry a soluble aspirin in your bag/wallet, if you suspect that someone has had or is having a CVA (heart attack) pop it into their mouth and you really could save their life with that one small act.

They will teach that it is better that 10 people dial 999 than everyone to assume that someone has already called them, and although you might think it to be nigh on impossible, keep calm. Although, if you ever find yourself in an emergency situation, as soon as you 'take control' you will find that your heart beat slows down and you will deal with it better than you thought you might. Most people do stand and watch, but you can also put them to good use regarding directing traffic, clearing the area or something as simple as fetching a blanket or pillow.

 

That is something that could help break up a clot, but that's technically prescribing and dispensing, you're not legally qualified to do that and that could land you in all sorts of 5h1t. When paramedics turn up you'd have to tell them so they could take that into account when they advise crash teams at the hospital when they're calculating doses of stuff there. Tbh mate, I wouldn't....could end up doing more harm than good.

All we're allowed to apply is sterile water to clean woulds or irrigate eyes and put on bandages if need be. My first aid kit at work contains no salves, antiseptics or anything.

[Thedelldays]

I thought about becoming a first aider at work until gay Phil had a fit in the canrteen. Had i been a first aider i would have been expected to assist and the thought made me feel physically sick. I'd like to know the basics though and i think everyone should.

wow

 

:smt073

[Viking Warrior]

FAW will not really help in that situation.

 

Some people just do the course for the money. If your in a local authority you get about £300 a year. they do a one day refresher every 3 years.

Now they rarely do with anything more than issue a plaster for a paper cut!!!!

 

Now back to the poor child. The main thing is not to move the child or injured person incase of spinal or neck injuries unless they are iminent danger from other hazards..

 

In my other vocation C spine is the key area in trauma cases followed by ensuring the casualty has a clear airway etc. Then you can deal with bleeding and breaks. The vial organs arer the most important aspects. obvioulsy if it is a broken leg anfd the casualty is screaming out. you know they are breathing by the noise they are making , so can you can deal with the broken leg once you are sure there are no other serious injuries internal or otherwise.

 

They dont teach you that sort of stuff on a FAW course.

 

We had a somebody collapse at work the other week . The FAW bod didnt have a clue so they called me only because I am Advanced trauma Life support trained./ Now if I hadnt had those skills I would probably be as confused and distressed as the bus driver in the accident.

[hamster]

That is something that could help break up a clot, but that's technically prescribing and dispensing, you're not legally qualified to do that and that could land you in all sorts of 5h1t. When paramedics turn up you'd have to tell them so they could take that into account when they advise crash teams at the hospital when they're calculating doses of stuff there. Tbh mate, I wouldn't....could end up doing more harm than good.

All we're allowed to apply is sterile water to clean woulds or irrigate eyes and put on bandages if need be. My first aid kit at work contains no salves, antiseptics or anything.

 

Really? I am no expert (maybe that is your point) but i would still do it if I thought the alternayive was that they might die. Incidentally, I wish that I had been carrying an aspirin the day my brother had a heart attack whilst cycling out in the new forest last year.

[Redbul]

Really? I am no expert (maybe that is your point) but i would still do it if I thought the alternayive was that they might die. Incidentally, I wish that I had been carrying an aspirin the day my brother had a heart attack whilst cycling out in the new forest last year.

 

Sorry to hear about your brother, but we were warned against doing this sort of thing 'cos it could interfere with the drugs that will get administered at the hospital and they could also (unlikely) be allergic to aspirin and also for the points I mentioned above. We even have to ask if someone has an allergy to plaster adhesive before we can hand out plasters. Maybe PC gone mad, but I'm afraid that England is following the Americans down the 'sue anybody for anything' highway. It'll get to the stage soon where voluntary First Aiders have to get insurance to protect against this sort of thing....

 

It's a shame 'cos most people volunteer to be First Aiders because they feel they want to be able to help and they do it with a real spirit of altruism.

[Nellie]

One of the lesser known 'tips' is to always carry a soluble aspirin in your bag/wallet, if you suspect that someone has had or is having a CVA (heart attack) pop it into their mouth and you really could save their life with that one small act.

I think you may have got a little muddled up. A CVA is a cerebrovascular accident, otherwise known as a stroke. This is a loss of brain function. A heart attack is an AMI, or acute myocardial infarction. This is where part of the heart is starved of oxygen, and cells die. The aspirin inhibits the platelets in the blood, which often cause the blockage in the coronary arteries and lead to the heart attack. However, rather than dispensing away, it is advisable to contact the professionals in this instance (not Bodie and Doyle) and let them advise you as to what you should be doing. I'd also echo what Redbul said, and would add that it is sensible to stick to only what you know about in an emergency.

 

 

I thought about becoming a first aider at work until gay Phil had a fit in the canrteen. Had i been a first aider i would have been expected to assist and the thought made me feel physically sick. I'd like to know the basics though and i think everyone should.

****.

[Kadeem Hardison]

I thought about becoming a first aider at work until gay Phil had a fit in the canrteen. Had i been a first aider i would have been expected to assist and the thought made me feel physically sick. I'd like to know the basics though and i think everyone should.

 

When it comes out of your willy, it isn't called 'sick'.

[Viking Warrior]

I totally endorse what Nellie and redbul are saying stick with only want you know angle.

 

Doing what you think is the right thing at an accident can do more harm than good.

 

FAW is okay for minor injuries but the life threatening stuff needs to be left to the professionals. If you are fully confident of resus techniques then fine if not get someone who is.

 

My point previously is that some folk who are FAW do it for the money and havent got a clue what to do if there was something more serious than a paper cut.

[Dimond Geezer]

To avoid paying for first aid courses & avoiding the possibility of litigation you could sign up with the ambulance service to become a Community Responder. The deal with this is you are assigned to a local group and when 999 is called, you get called also. First to the scene wins. I work out in the sticks where it cam take an ambulance a while to get to an incident and signed up to a local group. You get full accident emergency training right up to using a defib & oxygen therapy equipment, and you’re covered by the ambulance service insurance. There are times when you will be on-duty, however this will be at times convenient to yourself, for me it is 2 mornings a week during office time.

If you happened to be 'off-duty' and see an incident that you can help out at,( ie the bloke sat in front of you at St Marys has a heart attack because Saints have won ), you call 999, report the incident and ask to be logged on as a Community Responder, hence you are then covered insurance wise.