Why Is First Aid Important? 13 Common Reasons
Despite all precautions and care, accidents will always happen. Because of this, people who are properly trained and equipped with the right tools are a huge help in ensuring better safety for everyone.
First aid is important because: a minor injury could become serious without the proper first aid, and in some cases, lack of immediate medical attention can even result in fatalities. First aid not only encourages a quicker recovery but also helps save lives.
For more specific information, keep reading.
Table of Contents
Why Is First Aid Important?
Help Save Lives
It is unquestionably true that first aid training aids in lifesaving. But that’s not all—promptly administering the proper first aid can speed up recovery and determine whether a patient will experience a temporary or long-term disability. You’ll learn how to maintain composure in emergency situations and simple acronyms to remember the actions you need to take. Your confidence and comfort levels will increase as a result of first aid training, which will also help you feel more in control and effective.
Make Patients More Comfortable
Even though not all accidents, injuries, or illnesses necessitate hospitalization, the patient still experiences pain and suffering as a result. A child who is crying because of an elbow bruise or a fever is in distress and suffering. By knowing how to act – even just by employing simple techniques such as applying an ice pack correctly, or utilising appropriate bandaging, you’ll help to relieve their discomfort. By maintaining your composure, you’ll also offer them emotional support, which will increase their sense of security and lower their anxiety.
Gives Tools To Prevent The Situation From Becoming Worse
In some circumstances, a patient’s condition will worsen if basic first aid is not administered right away, frequently very quickly. You can stabilize a patient until emergency medical services arrive by being able to give basic care. In the event that a first aid kit is not available, you will learn how to use everyday objects as tools, enabling you to handle a variety of situations.
Additionally, you’ll receive instruction on how to gather facts and figures regarding what occurred and the patient’s health. The emergency services will receive this information, saving them time. You will thus be a crucial link in the chain of survival.
Creates The Confidence To Care
Knowing the basics of first aid will give you confidence in your abilities to administer first aid. You can reflect on yourself and how you and others respond in various situations by taking first aid training. Your confidence will increase in a variety of daily non-medical situations as a result of knowing this information.
Encourages Healthy And Safe Living
A trained individual can evaluate their environment more accurately. First aid training encourages a sense of safety and wellbeing among people. Being aware of and desiring to avoid accidents makes you safer and lowers the number of fatalities and accidents.
A Person’s Life Might Be Saved By It
Because it can save a life, first aid is crucial. Time is of the essence in a lot of medical emergencies. It’s possible that a sick or injured person won’t be able to hold on for long enough for help to arrive, especially if getting to them is challenging. If there is someone nearby who is trained in first aid, they can perform life-saving measures like CPR.
Relieves Pain
Pain is a common component of medical emergencies. Because they cause pain, even non-life-threatening events can be traumatic. That quick pain relief can be given by someone who is skilled in first aid. In doing so, you might administer painkillers from your first aid kit, make an instant-activating cold pack, apply cold water to a burn, and other things. Someone with first aid training will be familiar with the appropriate pain relief techniques in various circumstances.
Shield Against Infection
The likelihood of infection can be increased or decreased depending on how someone treats an injury after it occurs. It’s simple to make things worse if you lack the necessary training. As an illustration, many individuals believe that sterilizing a cut with hydrogen peroxide is acceptable. It is a fact that the cells attempting to heal the wound are harmed by this potent chemical. You can promote healing and prevent infection if you have the right knowledge and tools (clean bandages, clean water, soap, petroleum jelly, etc.).
Professionals Will Understand What Happened
If you are trained in first aid, you can stay with someone in need and offer assistance right away. You will also be better able to explain what happened when the experts show up. You can offer crucial details about what caused the emergency and what it looked like even if the person experiencing it isn’t in a state to communicate. The professionals are better able to make the best choices for their patient thanks to this communication.
Make Workplaces Safer
The safer the workplace, the more first aiders there are. When only one person is trained in first aid, what happens if they are the ones experiencing the emergency? Medical emergencies can occur at any time. Knowing first aid can help a business keep its customers safe since many workplaces also deal with the general public. Based on the emergencies that are most likely to occur, you can tailor your first aid training. As an example, if you work in a restaurant, someone could burn themselves, cut themselves, or choke. Dehydration and heatstroke are more likely if you work outside in the construction industry, especially in hot climates.
Safeguards Kids’ Safety
Medical emergencies frequently involve children as victims. They have poor hand-eye coordination, move around a lot, and enjoy tinkering with their surroundings. Even if a person is a very attentive parent, accidents can happen quickly. Infants can experience conditions like seizures and are also extremely vulnerable. Baby seizures are actually quite common, and frequently there is no obvious cause. Parents are better equipped to handle everything from minor cuts and bruises (no hydrogen peroxide!) to more scary situations like seizures.
Recovery Time Is Slashed
If first aid is not administered, the patient may not survive or may require more time to recover. As an illustration, if someone is bleeding from a wound and no one can stop it before emergency services arrive, the person will experience increased blood loss, lowered blood pressure, and the beginnings of organ failure. It is simpler and quicker to recover if you know how to stop the bleeding and dress the wound.
Saves Money
Not only does first aid save lives, but it also reduces medical costs. How? Because if you know how to properly treat a wound or minor burn, you won’t unintentionally aggravate it, contract an infection, and require medical attention. First aid also stops more serious situations from getting worse, so even though a trip to the hospital may still be required, the cost of care will be lower. Additionally, because the workplace is safer, proper first aid training helps businesses save money.
What Does “First Aid” Actually Mean?
First aid is the complete treatment of minor conditions while waiting for an ambulance, including CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
First aid doesn’t necessarily call for specialized tools or training. With the materials at hand, an untrained person could improvise.
AED (automated external defibrillator) use instruction is occasionally given, but basic first aid training is more frequently involved.
There are many situations that call for first aid, and regulations that are overseen by Safe Work Australia set forth a minimal standard of first aid. See more about What Is The First Aid Treatment For Heart Attack
3 P’s Of First Aid
The three priorities in first aid care are represented by the three Ps:
Preserve Life
Preserving life is the first aider’s main duty. Assessing potential risks to oneself, bystanders, and the casualty themselves at the emergency scene is necessary.
The DRSABCD strategy begins with a warning about potential danger. For this DRSABCD strategy, you can download a basic life support chart.
First responders would assess the victim’s level of consciousness before dialing 999 for emergency medical assistance and checking the person’s airway and breathing.
Then, in quick succession, CPR would be administered. In our Resource library, you’ll find a ton of CPR-related information and downloads.
Prevent Deterioration
The main goal here is to maintain the patient’s condition steadily so that it does not deteriorate while they are waiting for medical assistance.
The first responder would do this by giving first aid care and reassurance. The casualty would be positioned safely and comfortably, with any further injury being prevented.
Promote Recovery
When giving first aid care, the first responder would try to minimize suffering and boost the patient’s self-assurance. These are crucial actions that will aid in the recovery process.
These three Ps are crucial in the emergency care of victims and assist first responders in prioritizing their actions.
Why Learn First Aid?
Training in first aid gives students the courage to act when an emergency arises. An immediate first aid response can prevent permanent disability or save a life.
Risk reduction is extremely valuable. And avoidance is preferable to cure. Your senses become more sensitive to potential dangers in the workplace and at home as a result of first aid knowledge.
This enables you, as a first responder, to choose the best course of action to reduce risk, including evaluating safe emergency responses should they be required.
When Is First Aid Required?
Many professions require first aid certification before hiring. The workplace poses a serious threat to our health, second only to our homes.
For instance, there is a justifiable need for trained first aiders where workers are close to high-powered machinery that poses a health threat.
For organizations in the community or businesses that cater to public gatherings, trained first aid personnel are also essential. Education facilities, transportation options, retail establishments, public swimming pools, sports and fitness facilities, and more are included in this.
First aid is not the purview of medical professionals, despite its critical role in emergencies and the enormous benefits it offers.
It’s not difficult to finish a first aid course that has been accredited. It can be completed at your convenience, starting with an online first aid course, then moving on to practical instruction and evaluation.
Your first aid certification will help you land a job. Many Australian workplaces have a requirement for it.
More importantly, your first aid training will have you ready should the unexpected occur. Locate a first aid course that is accredited so you can receive your certificate in a single day.
How Long Does A First Aid Certificate Last?
There is no expiration date on first aid certificates. For several key reasons, Safe Work Australia does advise renewing them.
Procedures occasionally change, and adhering to CPR guidelines, such as those provided by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC), is a serious consideration.
More importantly, using first aid skills does not leave any room for uncertainty or hesitation. First aid refresher courses are advised to prevent knowledge and skills from fading.
Due to the following factors, Safe Work Australia has determined that a first aid certificate is valid:
HLATID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation — 1 year from the date of course completion
HLTAID010 Provide basic emergency life support — 3 years from the date of course completion
HLTAID011 Provide First Aid — 3 years from the date of course completion
HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an education and care setting — 3 years from the date of course completion
The Bottom Line
Understanding first aid is crucial for both you as an individual and for your community. It enables you to help injured people until help arrives in the event of an accident or other emergency. First Aid knowledge can be used at home, at work, or in public places; as a result, a community becomes safer as more members are certified in first aid.
Please leave your questions in a comment if you have any.
I appreciate you taking the time to read.
