Posted: 17 Jan '17

What Everyone Needs to Know About First Aid

Have you ever stopped to think about what could happen if someone you cared about had an accident or health-related incident and you weren't able to help them? Unfortunately, it happens all too often. To be prepared for unexpected events like that, you just need to commit to a two-day standard first aid and CPR course with us at MI Safety. Until then, here's what everyone in Edmonton needs to know about first aid.

Reduce Trips to the ER with First Aid

Studies have shown that as many as 25 of every 100 visits to emergency rooms and departments could have been avoided if someone at the scene had administered standard first aid. While that number may seem high, it's important to understand that many emergency room visits happen because people panic when faced with a situation they don't know how to handle. For example, the smallest nick on the scalp can cause what looks like a traumatic amount of bleeding, but that's only because the blood vessels are so close to the skin's surface. Once pressure is applied, the bleeding stops very quickly and unless there are signs of concussion (which a first aid course would teach you to look for), there's usually no need to head to the ER.

That's just one example of many situations where knowing standard first aid could have prevented an unnecessary trip to the emergency room, but we're sure it gives you an idea.

First Aid Prevents Escalation at a Scene

If a situation occurs where emergency services are required in Edmonton, it takes time for first responders to arrive at the scene. It's been proven many times that if you're properly trained in first aid, your brain automatically reverts to what you learned in the course. As a result, you are able to prevent escalation at a scene. In serious incidents, if you are trained in first aid you could be a person's life support system until paramedics arrive.

A Life Could Depend on First Aid

If a person suffers from cardiac arrest, every minute they are without life-saving CPR, their chance of survival drops by 7-10%. Is that a chance you wish to take in case a loved one suffers a heart attack or a child falls into a swimming pool? That may sound harsh but it's a reality you need to know considering 80% of cardiac arrests occur at home. When you consider that even the fastest of response times for emergency services averages at about five minutes, not being qualified in first aid could have a tragic ending.

Although while reading this all may seem overwhelming and jarring, these aren't scare tactics designed to get you to sign up for Edmonton first aid courses. All of these important things about first aid are very real. At MI Safety, we offer a two-day standard first aid and CPR course that will prepare you for life's unexpected events and situations. Contact us today to sign up for a first aid course or to learn more about the safety courses we offer.