Do you know First Aid?

Drakares

Edit: I mean real first aid: resuscitation, removing people from burning cars, providing oxygen to someone who's not breathing etc. - After having taking a course by a first aid professional.

I recently moved to Germany and I'm currently in the process of obtaining my German driving license. An obligatory requirement before I can even sit my driving test is that I'm qualified in first aid.

So today I took my class.. I've always kinda wanted to take a class on first aid, as before today, if someone had a heart attack in front of me, my first instinction would be to lie the person on their side (which I learned today is of absolute no help, and could possibly worsen the situation).. We learned in 6 hours, CPR, all different road accident situations involving motorbikes, lack of a pulse, burning cars, not breathing and what to do in each situation.

I found it an amazing common sense policy that persons with a driving license must have this training, as who knows what can happen and who will be the first to the scene of an emergency. Why isn't this in place in Ireland? I can only guess how many deaths could be prevented from road accidents if every passing driver knew first aid and what to do in the situation instead of standing around waiting for an ambulance.

The course cost me all of €20 quid. I done a quick google search and found Safety Ireland courses costing €100 per person to attend a first aid course... WTF?! The average joe soap could hardly afford this.

I'm not claiming to be righteous with my new first aid certificate. And if I had seriously thought about it in Ireland, and inquired to find out it was €100 - I wouldn't be the first to sign up considering the cost.

So, to get an idea what the chances of surviving on a Country road after a crash, with an ambulance 20 minute away my question to you is: Could you perform first aid to someone who's life depended on it?

keith16

Did a course years and years ago but have forgotten most of it.

Thinking of doing a course....you just never know.

Ihatecuddles-old

Yep, used it twice, saved a persons life with it!

Frosty McSnowballs

Yes I would be capable, hopefully I will never need to.

keith16

Ihatecuddles wrote: »

Yep, used it twice, saved a persons life with it!

The old dear in the airport? She's probably since popped her cloggs. You didn't save her, you just delayed the inevitable.




I jest, I jest.

Local-womanizer

I know first aid. Dunno if I would use it, depends on the situation I suppose.

Good to have in case anything happens in the home I suppose. A lot of it is really just comforting and making sure a victim doesn't do further damage to themselves until the pros arrive.

Drakares

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

Yes I would be capable, hopefully I will never need to.

Did you learn from a professional or do you think you'd be capable because you've seen it done in the movies? :pac:

Serious question though.

Drakares

Local-womanizer wrote: »

I know first aid. Dunno if I would use it, depends on the situation I suppose.

Good to have in case anything happens in the home I suppose. A lot of it is really just comforting and making sure a victim doesn't do further damage to themselves until the pros arrive.

Not necessarily, what if the person isn't breathing and doesn't have a pulse? A pillow and cup of tea wouldn't be of much use then.

byhookorbycrook

Yes, do a course every two years and a de-fib refresher each year.

Mint Sauce

First Aid, and use of AED Machine.

Frosty McSnowballs

Drakares wrote: »

Did you learn from a professional or do you think you'd be capable because you've seen it done in the movies? :pac:

Serious question though.

I learned from professionals. However, I'm naturally amazeballs with plasters!

Drakares wrote: »

Not necessarily, what if the person isn't breathing and doesn't have a pulse? A pillow and cup of tea wouldn't be of much use then.

Comforting, calming and reassuring a casualty is vital if they are conscious though.

Esoteric_

Learned first aid and got my cert when I was a kid. Had to use it several times on my mam when she kept having seizures. One was scary as fcuk because she cut her neck open when falling into the marble mantlepiece while falling down to have a seizure.

Gave some man mouth to mouth in the shopping centre I work in, too.

Hopefully I'll never have to use it again.

Fox_In_Socks

Drakares wrote: »

Not necessarily, what if the person isn't breathing and doesn't have a pulse?

Is this the "What are your turn-ons?" thread, cause that's hot!:pac:

Local-womanizer

Drakares wrote: »

Not necessarily, what if the person isn't breathing and doesn't have a pulse? A pillow and cup of tea wouldn't be of much use then.

Unless your smothering them with the pillow! :P

We were told that if they have no pulse the chances of CPR working are slim. The real priority is getting an AED as quickly as possible.

For things like cuts and fractures, to burns and choking its good, which all is covered in the course.

Pang

I know the basics and have a certificate in using the defib machine.

Drakares

Local-womanizer wrote: »

For things like cuts and fractures, to burns and choking its good, which all is covered in the course.

Between 14 and 45% isn't that low IMO. Most important thing is the person received it within 6 mins of when they stop breathing.

If anything, it's much better than a kick in the stones and I think it should be known by everyone.

Sauve

Yep, have a fairly decent knowledge of first aid. Keep the head and focus pretty well in an emergency too.

Dunno how, cos I'm a scatterbrained loo-la for most of the day

freshpopcorn

Well I am trained in first aid but that doesn't mean I am good at it.

Esoteric_

Sauve wrote: »

Yep, have a fairly decent knowledge of first aid. Keep the head and focus pretty well in an emergency too.

Dunno how, cos I'm a scatterbrained loo-la for most of the day

Me too! I'm completely ditzy 90% of the time, but as soon as an emergency pops up, I get cool, calm and collected and just get shít sorted.

Then start shaking and crying after. :pac:

Fox_In_Socks

Sauve wrote: »

Yep, have a fairly decent knowledge of first aid. Keep the head and focus pretty well in an emergency too.

Keeping the head of the injured person....you mean personally keep it or keep it attached to their body?

Sauve

Fox_In_Socks wrote: »

Keeping the head of the injured person....you mean personally keep it or keep it attached to their body?

I have a cabinet in the good room

<.<.
>.>.

Arawn

Yup Rec 3 certified

bumper234

I learned first aid while serving in the British army.

I worked as a bouncer for MANY years in Dublin city center.

I saved the lives of two American tourists in the space of 3 weeks.


How many of you hate me for the above 3 facts

Arawn

bumper234 wrote: »

I learned first aid while serving in the British army.

I worked as a bouncer for MANY years in Dublin city center.

I saved the lives of two American tourists in the space of 3 weeks.


How many of you hate me for the above 3 facts

0?

bumper234

Arawn wrote: »

0?

Facts are true question was a joke. My friends always used to rip me about them saying they made me the most hated man in Dublin....especially the saving of the American tourists:D

Frosty McSnowballs

bumper234 wrote: »

I learned first aid while serving in the British army.

I worked as a bouncer for MANY years in Dublin city center.

I saved the lives of two American tourists in the space of 3 weeks.


How many of you hate me for the above 3 facts

Heh

Fox_In_Socks

Sauve wrote: »

I have a cabinet in the good room

<.<.
>.>.

I keep thinking that I'm in the turn-ons thread for some reason...:pac:

Conchir

Yep, mandatory for my summer job.

Rasheed

Yeah I am, I think everyone should. But people need refreshers at least every two years. The amount of people that reckon they knew what to do in an emergency, and in reality have a vague notion, is mad and dangerous.

Mr. G

Yup, trained first aider from doing iws rescues. Can do basic life supports no problem at all. I'm going to finish them off next summer hopefully.

Its something I think everyone should know

FouxDaFaFa

I did a course but have forgotten most of it.

The only thing I would be confident in attempting would be the Heimlich.

Inbox

I've thought about doing a course, but easier just to google it if the need arrives.

Mr.Prodston

*bursts into the forum slightly breathless after rushing*

"Don't worry I'm a first aider, everything will be ok"

Mr. G

Inbox wrote: »

I've thought about doing a course, but easier just to google it if the need arrives.

You could buy a book and teach yourself. I extremely doubt if someone is lying unconsious (for instance) on the floor that you will have time to google it. Seconds count

I think the FAST stroke campaign is a very good idea. It shows how effective television can be

nervous_twitch

Nope. I would puke and panic.

tosspot15

How to manage cuts/bleeds
How to manage fractures/sprains
How to recognise a stroke
How to do CPR and AED
What to do with somebody in a carcrash/head+neck injury
Recovery position

Thats pretty much all you need to know. Its simple stuff. Most people have done a first aid course, but forget it a few months later.
especially since CPR changes every few years.

Remembers its 30 compressions + 2 breaths.

jester77

Yup, part of passing the driving test here. Have to attend a course and pass it, before you can sit your test.

truebluesac

Fully qualified paramedic , i also run first aid courses , i run them for big groups like community , football and sport clubs at cost price and teach from basic up to EMT level at he moment .all courses included the DFib . Only last month i recieved a email of a person who had sat the course the previous month and had saved a life in their sports club useing the Dfib .

First aid works and is a nessiary course peeps . In fact the most common place to use first aid is with your own family