When someone is ill or injured, they frequently require assistance. First aid is defined as emergency medical assistance that can save a person’s life, prevent a situation from worsening, or help someone recover faster.
Medical practitioners receive extensive training in first aid, while other occupations recommend or require employees to be familiar with basic first aid. Teachers are an excellent example. Even if it is not required for your job, knowing first aid can be extremely beneficial. Why? Here are ten of them:
It has the potential to save a life
First aid is critical because it has the potential to save someone’s life. Many medical emergencies require immediate attention. A sick or injured individual may not be able to wait long enough for professionals to arrive, especially if they are difficult to contact. If there is someone nearby who is trained in first aid, they can save the person’s life by performing CPR.
It alleviates discomfort
The majority of medical situations involve pain. Even non-life-threatening situations can be devastating due to the suffering they inflict. Someone who is familiar with first aid can provide quick pain relief.
Giving the victim pain medicine from a first aid bag; producing an instant-activating cold pack; pouring cold water over a burn; and so on are all examples. Someone who has received first aid training will be aware of the appropriate pain treatment procedures for specific scenarios.
It has the ability to prevent infection
When someone is hurt, the treatment they receive can either increase or decrease the likelihood of infection. It’s simple to make matters worse without the correct training. Many people, for example, believe that using hydrogen peroxide to sterilize a cut is permissible. The truth is that this powerful chemical harms the cells that are attempting to heal the wound. You can promote recovery and avoid infection with the correct training and resources (clean bandages, clean water, soap, petroleum jelly, and so on).
You can better communicate what happened to professionals
If you know first aid and someone has an emergency, you can stay with them and help them straight away. When the professionals arrive, you will be better able to describe what occurred.
The person experiencing the emergency may be unable to communicate, but you can provide vital information about what caused the emergency and how it appeared. This communication assists professionals in making the best decisions for their patients.
It increases workplace safety
The more individuals who are trained in first aid in the workplace, the safer it will be. Medical emergencies can occur at any time, and what happens if only one person knows how to administer first aid? Many workplaces also deal with the general public, so knowing first aid can assist a company to keep their customers safe as well.
You can tailor your first aid training to the kind of emergencies that are most likely to occur. In a restaurant, for example, someone could burn themselves, cut themselves, or choke. Dehydration and heatstroke are more common if you work outside in construction, especially in hot areas.
It protects youngsters
Children are frequently the victims of medical emergencies. They move around a lot, aren’t as coordinated, and like experimenting with their surroundings. Even if a person is an extremely vigilant parent, an accident might happen at any time. Infants are also extremely sensitive and might suffer from conditions such as seizures.
Seizures in neonates are fairly common, and there is frequently no clear reason. Knowing basic first aid allows parents to deal with everything from minor cuts and bruises (no hydrogen peroxide!) to more frightening scenarios such as child seizures.
It improves your mental health
Knowing how to provide basic first aid can considerably minimize your fear of medical problems. Life is full of unforeseen happenings that are absolutely beyond your control. Many people’s greatest fear is that something bad will happen to them or their loved ones. First aid can alleviate some of your anxiety by preparing you for a range of terrifying events.
It creates more work opportunities
Knowing first aid increases the amount of jobs available to you. As previously said, certain vocations demand first aid knowledge, thus whether you want to work as a lifeguard, flight attendant, social worker, or childcare provider, you will almost certainly need to know first aid. Having current first aid training looks nice if you’re applying to positions where you’ll be working with the public, such as retail.
It reduces recovery time
Failure to provide first aid can result in death, but even if they survive, they may face a lengthier recovery period. For example, if someone is bleeding from a wound and no one can stop it before emergency services arrive, the person will suffer from significant blood loss, low blood pressure, and the onset of organ failure. Knowing how to stop the bleeding and bandage the wound expedites recuperation.
It is cost-effective
First aid not only saves lives, but it also saves money. How? If you know how to correctly treat a cut or minor burn, you won’t make it worse, get an infection, or need to see a doctor. First aid also keeps more dangerous problems from worsening, so while a trip to the hospital may still be required, treatment will be less expensive. Proper first aid training also saves employers money since it makes the workplace safer.