First Aid
What is a First Aider and how to become one?
What is a First Aider?
First aiders are trained personnel who provide immediate assistance and care to injured people who need it to preserve life or prevent an injury from worsening. They play an essential role in ensuring a safer working environment.
Duties of a First Aider
- Prompt and careful assessment of the situation for any imminent threat without panicking and prioritising the most urgent issue/condition.
- Remove the victim from the source of the harm.
- If necessary, renew the person and administer general unconsciousness therapy.
- Loosen any tight garments or materials around the victim’s neck, wrists, waist and other body parts.
- Stop the bleeding, treat any cuts, burns, or scalds, and stabilise fractures.
- Allow no one to crowd a victim, and only relocate a person if necessary as in case of a dangerous environment (risk of falling debris, explosion etc.)
- Reassure the victim and get assistance as quickly as possible.
Skills in a First Aider
- Communication – Communication is one of the most critical qualities for a First Aider. As a first aider, you may encounter a wide range of situations; therefore, communicating effectively with the injured person and emergency services can instil reassurance in all parties. An excellent first aider should also be able to ask relevant questions about the symptoms. Communication might be difficult if the patient is terrified or is in pain.
- Initiative – Taking initiative is an essential quality. Remember that everything and everyone in your environment can assist you.
- Ability to Work Under Pressure – In an emergency, a first aider may be called upon to make decisions and act quickly. As a result, the ability to operate under duress is essential. In stressful situations, first aiders should be able to maintain their composure and recall crucial lifesaving techniques.
- Attentive to Detail – Being a first aider requires particular attention to detail. Learning first aid might be intimidating because there are various regulations and signs/symptoms to remember. A first aider should be detail-oriented in their work.
- Leadership – Finally, a first aider should be an essential team member. They can be called upon to work as part of a first-aid team or in association with other emergency services. During an emergency, a first aider must also act as a leader.
Courses to Become a First Aider
First aid training is a significant investment – not only could it save a life, but it could also give you the skills and confidence to deal with an emergency. No prior experience is required to become a first responder. Only by taking a first aid course can anyone be prepared in an emergency.
There are two introductory first aid courses available depending on your risk assessment results and the workplace environment:
- Emergency First Aid at Work – This Level 2 course prepares you to offer emergency first aid to someone hurt or unwell at work. Examples include a conscious person breathing with minor cuts or injuries or an unconscious person who is not breathing and requires CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation). Typically, this is a one-day first-aid course.
- First Aid at Work – This Level 3 course provides further instruction for those with previous EFAW knowledge and training to cope with various other accidents and illnesses, such as diabetic situations, strokes, various types of shock, and so on. The course also delves further and addresses more complex scenarios that may develop. These courses usually take three days to complete.
Steps to become a First Aider
- Enrol for a 1-day training of Emergency First Aid at Work (FAW) course or the three days course of First Aid at Work (FAW). You can choose to study from specified Hurak study centres or from the comfort of your workplace/home, where the trainers will arrive at your behest. Group bookings are also available.
- Qualify and pass the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) exam, an objective test with multiple choice questions and practical assessments during the sessions. It will take place in an official exam centre. If you pass, you will be rewarded with a Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) certificate and ID.
- Annual fresher training is compulsory for all first aiders to update themselves with the latest changes for effective treatment. The First Aid certificate and ID provided will be valid for three years. To renew the certificate, retake the entire course.
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