Family & Parenting » First Aid

The Three Ps – Goals From An Online First Aid Course

Author — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 08:29:29 +0000

As with any first aid course, an online course has goals for its students to adopt. These are the same as with any other first aid program, whether in person in a class or casual information in first aid gleaned over time and with experience.

Preserving Life

Uppermost in any first aid situation is the goal of preserving life. As this is key, it is critical that first aiders taking an online first aid course get information in making primary assessment of an unconscious or irresponsible person. This is done by using the ABC mnemonic, which stands for Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. A person must have an open airway. Tipping the head back, which moves the tongue from in front of the throat, can do this. Also, be sure the victim was not choking on anything. If so, abdominal thrusts or back slaps may be needed.

Once the victim has a clear airway, it becomes critical to see if the victim is breathing and has circulation. If not, the first aider needs to initiate CPR – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. When doing CPR, the first aider is breathing for the victim, forcing air into the lungs, and massaging the heart in order to move the blood flow through the body.

Preventing Further Injury

A first aid responder learns through an online fist aid course that they can keep the victim and others from further injury by only moving the patient if absolutely necessary (imagine a patient in the pathway of a train…) so that more damage isn’t done to the victim through the moving. It is best to leave the victim lying where he or she is, as long as the airway is clear and there is breathing and circulation.

Promoting Recovery

A responder promotes recovery by either fully caring for the injury, as in the case of bandaging a small wound, or by maintaining a situation like a broken bone until someone else with further training arrives – like an ambulance. In an online first aid training course, the student learns how to promote recovery of the victims.

Beyond The 3 P’s

Other aspects of health and safety that are often including in an online first aid course are the concepts of preventing initial injury and responder safety.

Simply being aware of safety concerns around us and eliminating them can avoid many injuries. Every workplace has safety as a priority, since injuries cause lost time and money. We should do the same in our homes, as well as in public.

Responders need to be careful to preserve their safety when they attempt to help others. It does no good to attempt to help a victim if it results in another victim. For example, a common concern are bloodborne pathogens. Responders need to be aware of the dangers of bloodborne pathogens and take appropriate precautions – known as Universal Precautions. These can all be learned in an online first aid course.

The Benefits Of First Aid Safety Training

Author — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:26:27 +0000

Accidents can happen no matter where you are, whether it’s in the workplace, at home, school, or on vacation. You may just be walking down the street and see someone in need of medical attention. When you run into these situations, wouldn’t you like to be prepared instead of standing around wondering what to do? This is why everyone should should enroll in some type of first aid safety training course.

What Are The Benefits?

No one should have to be convinced why it’s a good idea to take first aid safety training. If you have children, think about the accidents that they have and all of the potential dangers they face each day. Parents should be prepared to deal with a number of different medical issues. Even if they suffer a serious injury that requires further treatment, the initial first aid that is performed could mean saving their life. Medical emergencies can happen anywhere, and if you are trained, you could be the only one able to save someone’s life.

How Do I Get First Aid Safety Training

Many organizations offer first aid safety training. Your local Red Cross would be a good place to start looking. Many employers also offer this type of training. Depending on the type of job it is, they may even make it mandatory. This would be the case for people who work in nursing homes and prisons and things like that. It’s not surprising that you can find first aid training online as well. The internet is a wealth of information for those who want to learn more about first aid safety training.

What To Expect

When you take a first aid safety training course, there are a number of topics that will be covered. You will learn basic first aid and how to treat some of the more common injuries. You will learn how to treat minor and severe cuts and scrapes. You will also learn how to deal with broken bones and other emergencies. Basically, first aid is a way to stabilize an injury until professional medical personnel arrive. Other things, such as snake bites and bee stings will also be covered. Some classes will talk a lot about first aid in the home, and even tell you what kind of first aid safety supplies you should have on hand.

Many first aid safety training courses will also include instruction on CPR as well. This is one of the most important things that anyone should learn. This training will also include techniques for saving people who are choking. They will usually include adult and child CPR, which are a bit different in how they are performed. If you haven’t already taken the time to get training, there’s no better time than right now to get it done.

How Do Online First Aid Classes Work?

Author — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 07:38:58 +0000

If you’ve never taken an online first aid class, you’re going to be surprised. It isn’t like taking a traditional in-person class, where you can see the teacher and ask questions. There are some similarities, of course, but there are also several differences.

Similarities

The biggest thing both types of training have in common is the content. They will both tell you the same way to clean a wound, and to bandage it up, and about the ABCs (or 3B’s). The basics will still be there. You’ll learn how to treat a person you come across that is in need of medical attention. You’ll learn what to do to fill the gap between the time of injury and the time that qualified medical personnel arrive to take over and possibly transport the victim to the hospital if needed. And what to do so you can put a bandaid on it, kiss it better, and send your child back out to play again.

It is also similar in that there will be a test before certification. This is important! It is a way for the person issuing the certificate to know that you’ve retained at least a minimum level of proficiency with the given information. While the tests won’t have the exact same questions, they will be about the same. Both will want to be sure you know how to deal with bleeding that doesn’t seem to stop, and with how to maintain an airway.

Differences

While there are many similarities between a standard first aid classes and online first aid classes, there are also some key differences.

One is that the online first aid classes take much shorter of a time to take than the in person ones. An in person course takes a few hours, at a minimum. The online first aid classes tend to take about an hour from start to finish, sometimes a bit longer.

Also, the online classes teach you just the information you need to be success in performing first aid. Sometimes the in person classes teach other stuff, that, while it may be interesting, is not necessarily most important in our daily lives.

Another difference is the cost. For the in person class, someone has to pay. (Occasionally there are free classes available, but they are few and far between – definitely now the norm) Sometimes, your employer will pay it, but if not, you get to pick up the cost for that. With the online first aid course, the cost is minimal – there is almost no overhead for the online company! And many are even free. If you want your certificate there is a fee to print it and send it to you, or to email it to you for you to print yourself, but that’s where they make their money.

Is An Online First Aid Classes Good Enough?

Maybe. Probably. If you are in doubt if it will be in your circumstance, check with your company or state. Since most online first aid classes are filled with the same strict standards of information as the Red Cross course, or the American Heart Association course, this is often sufficient. It is certainly worth consideration.

First Aid Fire Safety For You And Your Family

Author — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:35:26 +0000

If you have a family, you want to do everything in your power to ensure their safety. Accidents happen all the time, even in the comforts of our own homes. One of the biggest concerns for many homeowners is the possibility of fire. If you don’t already have provisions in place for first aid and fire safety in your home, there’s no better time than right now to start.

Getting Started

If you and your family have never considered first aid fire safety, the first thing you need to do is sit down and discuss what will happen in the event of fire. This is where you will lay out your fire escape evacuation plan. This will be a plan of how each person will exit the house if it catches on fire. The best thing to do is make a diagram of your home and highlight the quickest exit points from each room. When you have an evacuation plan in place, it’s important to practice it from time to time so that everyone is aware of where they are going when a fire starts.

This is also the perfect time to discuss each family member’s responsibilities as far as first aid and fire safety are concerned. This will prevent confusion and lack of organization from making a situation more dangerous than it already is. Have at least one member of the family enroll in a local first aid safety training program. There they will learn helpful tips for how to deal with these types of situations.

Children

First aid and fire safety is especially important if you have young children. Many home fires are started by children who were not properly instructed in the potential dangers that cause fires. Children need to be taught what could happen if they play with lighters and matches and things like that.

Other Things To Consider

There are several things you can do to prevent fires from occurring at home. Avoid overloading electrical outlets and extension chords if possible. Since electrical fires are the most common type of home fire, care should be taken to use your appliances properly. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing or operating your equipment. Obviously, keep all flammable materials away from heat sources as well.

First aid and fire safety is something that should be a priority for every family. Hopefully, you will never need to use your evacuation plan, but you would not want to wish you would have had one if something should happen.

How Does An Online First Aid Certification Program Work?

Author — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:32:52 +0000

There are many companies offering an online first aid certification. All of these offer basic first aid, but some offer even more, like a CPR certification.

Many of the companies combine the CPR and First Aid accomplishment onto one 2-year certificate. While is it recommended that you re-certify at 12-month intervals, two years is adequate. The training can be used for many occupations – child daycare, education professionals, plumbers, electricians, and those in manufacturing and construction, and much more.

Some companies provide training both online and with a hands-on component for those who prefer it.

Basics Of Online First Aid Certification Programs

This is how the online first aid certification works for most companies. Depending on the company you choose, there may be some difference, but generally, the elements will be the same.

First, sign up with the company. They want to know who they’re dealing with. You will probably want to bookmark the site, too, for ease in finding again.

Next, use their online training materials to become familiar – or to reacquaint yourself – with the material you will be tested on. Some companies offer videos you can view, with others there are online pictures and accompanying text. They often train using specific scenes and variations of it to facilitate the training and demonstrations.

When you feel ready, locate their online free first aid/CPR certification test. If you pass with (usually) 80% or better, well done! You can get your certification. Most company’s test includes a variety of multiple choice and true/false questions, and often there are some specific test questions based on on an adult or infant body.

Now, decide if you want an actual certificate. If you need one – for example, to hang on your office wall or to show to customers or an employer, then by all means, buy a wall size certificate. If you’d rather get a wallet card, those are available too. So, pay for your certification, if you want to get one. It can be sent via email (for you to print out yourself) or via postal mail. Most companies take all major credit cards, some also take Paypal. Some even offer to accept a money order, sent via the postal mail, for their online first aid certification.

If you had your certificate emailed to you, print it out as a wall certificate or a wallet card. Your online first aid certification is complete.

There. A simple way to re-certify, getting your first aid certification online!

Home Safety And First Aid Kits

Author — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:23:07 +0000

Many people like to talk about the dangers that are present when they, or their children venture outside. This article will focus on the place that you spend most of your time – your home. Accidents can happen here as easily as they can happen anywhere else. This is why it’s so important for you and your family to have home safety first aid kits. Every home should have them, but it’s especially important if you have small children. Obviously, they are more accident prone than everyone else.

What Should I Put In It?

There are standard safety and first aid kits that you can buy that will have the basics in them. This would include bandages of various sizes, scissors, medical tape, gauze, antibiotic ointment, cough medicine, and decongestant, just to name a few. These standard kits will work, but you may want to consider customizing your home safety and first aid kit. You can include all the items that you would normally find in a kit, plus anything else you think you may need.

Sometimes the specific medical needs of a certain family member will dictate what you will put in your kit. For example, if someone in your family has asthma, you will probably want to keep an extra inhaler in there. Another example would be if someone is allergic to bee stings. If this is the case, an EpiPen would be a good idea also. If any members of the family are on medication, you should keep a list of these in the safety and first aid kit also.

It’s also a good idea to keep a list of emergency contact numbers in the kit as well. This would come in handy for an older child that must deal with an emergency with one of the younger children in the family. Depending on the seriousness of the situation, they may need to contact, not only 911, but also any adult family members who may not be home at the time. If the numbers are in the kit, this will save them the trouble of hunting around for mom and dad’s work numbers.

In addition to a regular safety and first aid kit system, you should also come up with a first aid fire safety plan. This would include making sure everyone is aware of where the fire extinguishers are and how to use them. It also includes having a good evacuation plan. Having a plan is a good idea, but it only works if it is practiced every so often. Regular fire drills will ensure that everyone knows exactly how they are going to get out of the house in the event of a fire.

In addition to the above mentioned precautions, it’s also a good idea to make sure at least one person in the house is trained in first aid and CPR. The safety of your loved ones should be a priority no matter what you are doing.

Why Take A CPR or First Aid Class Online? I’ve Already Been Trained!

Author — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:20:46 +0000

If you’ve been through CPR or First Aid Training before, you know the basics. You know how to assess the victim, check the ABCs or 3Bs, and aware of the danger of shock how to avoid it. Maybe you’ve had to use your training, maybe not. You’ve probably used it when handling relatively minor things, like cuts, scrapes, or minor burns. Chances are, you haven’t done CPR on anyone recently.

The certificate you were given when you finished your training (if you got an online CPR certification at all) is usually only valid for up to two years. Most programs recommend you take the course again to re-certify a year later. This is wise, considering information we don’t use is more easily lost – and inaccessible to us when we need it. Also, information changes over time, as medical research determines that a different method of treatment is best. For example, butter used to be advised to put on burns, to “soothe” the wound. Now, it has been determined that this actually prolongs the burning, making it worse, and that for most burns, using cold water is a much better choice until the burning has stopped and the healing can start. Another example is that a tourniquet was advised in much more mild of situations, where now the tourniquet is only advised in situations where otherwise the person would lose their life, and the lose of a limb is “less bad”.

Taking An Online CPR Or First Aid Refresher Course

The advantages of an online CPR and/or First Aid refresher course are many. First, an online course is much easier to fit into your life. It doesn’t require taking time out of your busy day to attend an on-site course, working with people you don’t know, and trying to impress others with your knowledge. It doesn’t require paying big bucks to remember stuff you already know, and to take the test to “prove it” to them, just to get a new certificate or to know that you are educated in what do to when someone needs first aid.

Another benefit of taking a CPR or first aid online course is that, because of the lower overhead for these businesses, there is usually little or no cost to the course. Many online CPR or First Aid courses are free – they just want the information available to everyone. Of course, if you want to get a certificate you can display to others (either in wall size or wallet size) you will need to pay a small fee, usually under $40. Then either wait a few days for a nice certificate to arrive or have it emailed to you to print out from your own computer and be able to use it immediately.

Most courses online for CPR or first aid have some reading involved, some basic information to re-absorb or refresh yourself on. But it takes nowhere near the hours many in person courses take. Only the most important information is given, and thus more easily retained.

First Aid And Personal Safety And Survival Kits

Author — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:38:30 +0000

Most families have some type of first aid kit around the house. That’s fine for common injuries that occur during everyday life, but did you ever think about what you would do if some type of disaster strikes? Did you ever think about what first aid and personal safety items you would need in such a situation? This article will give you some advise on how to prepare a survival kit for your family.

Advantages

The advantages of being prepared in the event of a disaster are many. If something would happen that would force you to have to leave your home for a safer place, there may be a lot of confusion concerning what to take if you are not ready ahead of time. Putting together a first aid and personal safety kit can eliminate this confusion. Your first priority will be to get your family to safety, and you might not have time to think about anything else.

If you think that the local authorities will be there to assist you in a situation like this, you may be waiting a while. That’s not to say that they won’t respond quickly, but depending on the circumstances, they may have many people to help before they get to you. Your first aid and personal safety kit may be the only thing to keep you alive until they get there.

What Should The Kit Consist Of?

There are a number of things that should be included in your first aid and personal safety disaster kit. You should start with the basic first aid items for treating common injuries. You should also consider what types of emergencies you are likely to face in your area. For example, if you live in Florida, your kit will not include blizzard supplies.

After the basics, your first aid and personal safety kit should include items that are specific to certain members of your family. Certain medical conditions may dictate what goes onto the kit. If there is a baby in the family, you will want to include things such as diapers and formula. Packing extra clothing and blankets is also a good idea in case you are forced to spend an extended period of time outside.

In addition to survival items, it’s also a good idea to make sure someone in the family has some first aid training. If there are injuries, they may be the only ones able to keep you alive until help arrives. It may be hours, or even days before help can reach you. You want to make sure your kit also includes food and water. Make sure there is plenty for every member of the family. This kit may be the difference between life and death in the event of a disaster.

Health And Safety: First Aid In The Workplace

Author — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 04:09:09 +0000

No matter what type of job you have, there are certain health and safety risks that you must deal with. Obviously, some professions are more dangerous that others, but health and safety and first aid should be priorities for all of them. Many people do not realize that their employers are obligated, by law, to provide them with the safest working conditions possible. This act was put in place in 1974, and requires that all employers have policies and systems in place to provide workers with the proper treatment for injuries and illness. This may take several different forms, including programs and services, or safety and first aid kits.

Workplace Safety

The most basic provisions for many employers for health and safety are first aid kits. This provides the employees with the ability to treat basic injuries that they might receive on the job. Most kits are quite basic and easy to use, so that anyone can utilize what’s in them. However, many employers have at least one person present who has health and safety and first aid training. This gives the employees the opportunity to have the best possible immediate medical care. This person can also advise if further treatment is going to be necessary.

Depending on the type of profession it is, many employers require in-house health and safety first aid training. This is often a requirement for those who work in corrections or shelters or other types of care facilities. This is also usually done in places where the employees are in close contact with hazardous chemicals.

Any type of health and safety or first aid program should also include training on fire safety. In addition to instruction on how to treat burns, employees should also be made aware of the location of all fire extinguishers and how to use them. Fire drills should also be conducted so everyone knows how to get out of the building in the event of fire. No matter what type of facility you work in, there is some type of fire risk.

Other Services

In addition to basic health and safety and first aid systems, many employers offer various other services, including stress management, counseling, and drug and alcohol abuse programs. Sometimes, the stress associated with a person’s job will begin to negatively affect many aspects of their life, including their health. Some employers have stress management classes available to their employees. This may help them deal with their stress in a positive way and avoid further complications later on. Sometimes this stress, or other factors, will lead to some type of substance abuse. Many companies also offer programs to help their employees deal with these issues. Some even include counseling for family members to help them deal with it.

More employers are getting involved and offering more than just the basics of health and safety. With today’s fast paced and hectic lifestyles, this is becoming more important all the time.

The History Of Online First Aid Training

Author — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:35:52 +0000

We all know the value of providing first aid to those who are ill or injured. We’ve learned about first aid since we were young, both through modeling – seeing others help when there is a situation requiring it – and often studying first aid through school or a scouting program. We can be certified through a program at work, or have taken online first aid training. It may seem almost intuitive to us to offer that help to those who need it. But it wasn’t always that way.

First Aid – What Do We Mean By This?

First aid is the giving of help to those who are injured or ill. It is a limited type of help. It can be self-limiting, with something that doesn’t need further medical help, like for some cuts or burns. Or the first aid can be much greater, where one is providing care until someone with more knowledge arrives and is able to take over. It can be perhaps life-saving, where the first aider is able to help the person stay alive, though they have very minimal equipment.

How Did It Begin?

The practice of providing “first aid” was adopted a long time ago, back in the days of knights and battles. The Knights Hospitaller took care of those who were injured on the battlefield. In the 11st century, the Order of St. John was founded by knights to help other knights to learn to treat damage inflicted on the battlefield. In 1877, St. John Ambulance was formed to teach what they called “first aid” in the mining districts and railway centers. They realized the importance of getting the information out to the average person, just as online first aid training promotes having the information available to everyone. The order of St. John and its training spread across Europe and the British Empire.

In 1859, a man named Henry Dunant helped spread the information by teaching villagers in Solferono, Italy, how to help the injured and dying in the Battle of Solferino. Four years later, in Geneva four nations met and formed what is now known as the Red Cross.

The Value Of War

The progress and development of first aid has been largely helped by numerous wars. For example, Clara Barton, organizer of the American Red Cross, was prompted by the American Civil War.

And Today?

Today, many groups promote the disbursement of information about first aid. Scouting groups are popular for this, as are the miliary and many employments. As time has gone on, the techniques and equipment have changed, making first aid as it is practiced today, more effective than ever before.

Role Of Online First Aid Training

How does online first aid training fit into all this? No longer does one have to find a scheduled class to attend in order to learn about first aid. One can take a class in first aid training online, from the privacy of one’s bedroom, whenever one wants. It doesn’t’ have to cost a lot – many online first aid training programs are free. Basic first aid is available to the average person at a rate only dreamed of in years gone by, because of the internet and available online first aid training.