By: Joni Boyd
It’s easy to put off learning First Aid, but with the holiday season almost here, now is a good time to make sure you know what to do, if anything goes wrong.
Former paramedic Bill Baltzois says it’s important that people – and particularly parents – don’t delay, when it comes to learning First Aid this summer.
“Don’t put it off, don’t wait for another opportunity,” he said, with a particular emphasis on the upcoming summer holidays and the tragic annual increase in accidents and drowning incidents they bring.
“First Aid saves lives, there is no doubting this fact.
“Science has proven that an unconscious patient who is not breathing experiences brain damage after about 4 minutes and after 10 minutes whatever damage has occurred is irreversible.”
And while it’s vital to call 000 immediately, help doesn’t always arrive fast enough.
“Average response times can vary with help arriving from anywhere between 8 to 15 minutes if not longer,” Bill said.
“First Aid is about the care provided before help arrives, and we know that these first 10 minutes can be the difference between life and death sometimes.
“This can mean that your child, your workmate, your friend, your family member doesn’t get the help needed quick enough and their chances of survival decrease rapidly.”
If you’ve never found yourself in a situation requiring First Aid skills, that’s fantastic – but now’s the time to prepare.
“Often this conversation is had after someone witnesses or goes through an emergency and realises afterwards that they weren’t prepared or didn’t know what to do or how to do it properly.
First Aid is about the care provided before help arrives and can be the difference between life and death.
“They unfortunately regret not having completed a course previously,” Bill said of the people who come to him needing to learn First Aid skills.
“First Aid does not have to be scary – almost anyone can learn the vital skills of helping someone in need of medical assistance.”
Bill’s training school First Aid Everyday has helped thousands of families, family members and individuals learn the vital skills of First Aid.
“First Aid skills and training can be scary and we can be anxious, nervous and intimidated about learning how to do this,” he explains.
“However, at First Aid Everyday, our public courses are facilitated in small groups only, with no more than 4 students in any course.
If you’ve never found yourself in a situation requiring First Aid skills, now’s the time to prepare.
“This means that all participants will be able to receive training in a unique, personal and thorough manner.
“Our training courses will prepare you for any possible medical situation that may arise.
“We break it down and ensure that you not only can help but understand why you are doing what is required.”
And with summer holidays almost here, now’s the time to be ready.
Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.
Feature image: Photo by Kristine Wook on Unsplash
About the Author: Joni Boyd is a writer, based in the Hawkesbury Region of NSW. She is passionate about the power of stories shared, to transform lives.