A professional paramedic has everything they could conceivably need close to hand when they're on duty. I've worked shoulder-to-shoulder with these guys. With their training and the right tools and equipment, they can literally be life-savers. But what happens if they stumble across a first aid emergency when they're off duty?
No ambulance, no expensive equipment, no team of highly skilled professionals to work with? That's when our paramedic heroes can step up and become superheroes, but they'll need to reconnect with the basics of first aid to be effective with more rudimentary facilities when they're off duty. Refreshing their basic skills and techniques is key, and applies to all of us; paramedics, accountants, parents, builders, carers, teachers, supervisors, couriers...
They won't thank me for saying so, but you may be surprised to hear that paramedics aren't always experts at bandaging in my opinion! Whether it's a bandage to stem a bleed or to support a fracture, practice makes perfect. The best place to practice is on a first aid course, and paramedics benefit from these courses just as much as the general public. There is a knack to bandaging, and once you've got the hang of it (and a variety of other first aid techniques), you can confidently come to the aid of an unfortunate casualty who needs attention.
A paramedic often relies on the actions of the very first person to have contact with a casualty at the scene of an incident - a 'first responder' or 'first aider'. The first aider will be able to gain vital information from the casualty, especially if there's a risk that they may slip out of consciousness before the professionals can get there. First Aid treatment of a casualty who has sustained an injury or is unwell can save their life just by preventing the condition deteriorating. When the paramedic arrives with their enhanced skills and equipment, they can take over seamlessly and stabilise the patient so they can be transferred to hospital and into the care of even more advanced and comprehensive medical care.
The importance of the first responder can't be overstated, even when the first aider is a medical professional. With the right training, everyone can make a difference and should be capable of rising to the challenge if and when the need arises.
If you would like to organise first aid training for yourself or your teams, please contact Kirsty on 07733 466070.
