First Aid training

How a casualty is treated in the first few minutes after an accident can make all the difference and in extreme cases this can mean life or death. The value of a St John Ambulance course is that it gives you the protocols to follow and you learn the techniques.

We began with the first aid box – which should be marked with a green cross on a white background – and what it should contain. The contents for schools and workplaces are different from those we have at home as certain rules apply. However we should all have one and the contents should be in date!

After we had practised bandaging each other's heads, hands and arms correctly we progressed to slings and their various uses. The course includes dealing with bleeding, coping with choking, fainting, stings and bites and allergic reactions. We learned how to assess a situation and how to put the casualty into the recovery position. Plus we were taught Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation.

You never know when you will need first aid skills and I would recommend taking a course.

St John Ambulance runs courses for children and adults. For more information contact them on 08700 10 49 50 or visit their website www.sja.org.uk