First aid is a key part of any healthy lifestyle. It can help you deal with minor injuries and illnesses, but it also gives you the skills necessary to save a life in an emergency. While some people get nervous at the thought of first aid, it’s not as complicated as it might sound—and knowing how to handle basic emergencies can be helpful! In this blog post, read everything you need to know about first aid in Brisbane.
What is first aid?
First aid is the treatment given to a sick or injured individual before professional medical help arrives. First aid is not a substitute for professional medical help, but it can make all the difference in the short term. First aid is not a substitute for professional medical treatment and should only be performed by those trained in its administration. If you are trained in first aid and feel comfortable doing so, you should administer first aid when appropriate as long as you understand that your actions could result in further injury or death.
What does a first aid course cover?
A first aid course will cover a wide range of topics, including:
- CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure that involves chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing to help someone who has stopped breathing or has no pulse. Most courses teach you how to do basic CPR—but if you’re interested in learning advanced techniques, such as starting an intravenous line or using an automated external defibrillator (AED), some courses may offer additional training.
- Choking occurs when something blocks the airway, preventing oxygen from reaching your lungs. It can be fatal if not treated quickly and correctly; most first aid courses will teach you how to dislodge whatever’s obstructing someone’s throat before beginning CPR.
- Bleeding: Bleeding can happen anywhere in your body, requiring immediate medical attention if it doesn’t stop on its own within about five minutes. First aid courses teach students how to apply pressure with sterile gauze pads to stop bleeding until paramedics arrive on the scene.
CPR and first aid refresher courses
CPR refresher courses are offered in Brisbane and other locations by different providers. The Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) offers the Basic Life Support (BLS) course, which is suitable for anyone wanting to learn the basics of CPR. This course consists of two components: theory and practice.
Theory: Course participants will learn how to recognize various conditions where someone requires assistance from first aid responders in Brisbane, including cardiac arrest and choking; how to assess whether a person needs CPR; what actions should be taken in an emergency; as well as how to apply hands-only CPR or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation techniques when performing rescue breathing.
Practice: Participants will have the opportunity to put their theoretical knowledge into practice during realistic scenarios such as mock-up medical trauma cases where they will be required to perform some basic life support and assist in treating people who have suffered severe injuries such as chest injuries or burns, etcetera.
First aid and advanced resuscitation techniques
First aid and advanced resuscitation techniques are necessary certifications, but they are not the same. Senior first aid is a general cross-over certification covering basic life support (BLS) and infant/child/adult CPR. Advanced resuscitation techniques (ATR) is a more specialized course focusing only on adult CPR.
Both courses require you to pass written and practical tests before receiving your certificate, but senior first aid in Brisbane may require some prior medical experience, while ATR does not. You must also undergo regular refresher training to maintain your senior first aid or ATR certification; however, the time between renewals will depend on when you initially took the class(es.) For example: if someone took their BLS/CPR certification ten years ago or longer, they’ll need to wait four years before renewing it; if someone took their BLS/CPR certification five years ago or sooner. Then they’ll need just two years between renewals after this point because less time has passed since being certified initially than those who waited longer before taking these classes again.
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