First Aid Training and Kits

A knowledge of first aid is one of those indispensable skills that last a lifetime, and which may literally save a life – whether in the normal course of daily life or under the emergency conditions imposed by some natural or man-made disaster.

So, what skills do you need and what goes into your first aid kit?

First Aid Training

There are any number of training agencies offering to teach the basics of first aid. One of the most accessible is run by the British Red Cross, whose website landing page points you in the direction of online learning for dealing with a list of medical emergencies.

The Red Cross also offers a free downloadable first aid skills pack and has developed an app to put on your smartphone, so you have the information immediately to hand when faced with an emergency.

First Aid Skills

First aid skills are many and varied – whatever your current skill set, there is probably still more to learn.

When starting your first aid training, keep in mind the main objectives you aim to achieve through your skills and knowledge, namely:

• preserve life;

• prevent the current medical crisis or condition from deteriorating; and

• promote recovery.

You achieve that by taking immediate action – since fast action may save a life and prevent an injury or condition from getting worse. You will also need to calm down any panic among members of the group by taking charge of the situation. That includes making – or getting another responsible person to make – the call for the appropriate medical assistance.

Action

Any treatment or action you take with the victim of course depends on the nature and extent of his or her injuries. The following might be considered some of the basic steps:

• check whether the victim is conscious;

• that means checking for breathing through his or her airways and, if necessary, carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR);

• check for blood circulation – by measuring the victim’s pulse; and

• check for and attempt to staunch and control any major bleeding.

First Aid Kit – Contents

There are no hard and fast rules on exactly what any first aid kit must contain. Much depends on the conditions you expect you might need to encounter and the space you have available in a place of safety, out on the road, or in your bug out bag.

The UK’s High Speed Training hub suggests that a basic kit might contain the following:

• separately wrapped, sterile, triangular bandages and similarly wrapped gauze dressings of various sizes;

• specialist dressings for burns;

• rolled crêpe bandages, sticking plasters, finger dressings and adhesive tape;

• eyewash, eye bath and sterile eye pads;

• cleansing wipes – preferably alcohol-free;

• face mask or shield;

• safety pins;

• several pairs of disposable nitrile gloves;

• distilled water for cleaning wounds; and

• scissors and tweezers.

Once again, it is worth repeating that although first aid skills and the existence of a first aid kit are likely to prove essential, exactly what goes into your kit – over and above the basics – is largely a matter of personal judgment.