Quality First Aid Training Saves Lives

First aid is immediate care given to a person who is injured or taken ill. The immediate nature of first aid incidents makes them stressful to deal with. The good news is with most incidents, your role as a first aider is a temporary one, looking after casualties until support arrives. 

Mental Health First Aid is immediate support given to a person who may be experiencing a mental health crisis.  A Mental Health First Aider does not aim to solve problems, they are there to listen and signpost sources of support available.

1. Preserve life – The rescuer, bystanders and the casualty.

2. Prevent worsening – Protect casualty from further harm.

3. Promote recovery – Treat illness or injury.  Reassure casualty and bystanders.

In the UK you should call 999 to reach the fire, police or ambulance service plus other search and rescue services such as the Coastguard or Mountain Rescue (you must first ask for the Police). In the EU you can call 112 for the emergency services, and this number also works in the UK and many other countries.

For full information on what constitutes an emergency and what the other numbers are for, please read our very popular blog titled “Phoning 999, 112, 111 or 101 – Which Number Should I Call?“

The first aid course that is most suitable for you is usually dictated by your employer after they have carried out a First Aid Risk Assessment, or alternatively by a Governing Body who might require you to have a certain type of first aid qualification in order to satisfy the requirements of your other professional qualifications. Examples of this is the Equestrian industry who have different requirements for different coaching awards, the outdoor industry who usually require a 2 day Outdoor First Aid Course for most qualifications, Scottish Youth Football Association who require a 2 day SYFA course for their coaches, or Ofqual who require a 2 day Paediatric First Aid course for all childcare and early years workers in England.

First Aid course choice, if not dictated by one of the above, is then up to you to decide which is best for you to do. Choose a course that is relevant to the context in which you operate, as well as covering your identified risks.  We are here to help and advise of course, so please contact us for more help if you need it, we’re always happy to discuss with you and help you get the best first aid training and/or mental health first aid training.