First aid courses have become class room based learning activities rather than learning how to save lives.
You must think operationally. Put the skills into context.
Simple things like calling the ambulance. We often pay lip service to this most basic and vital of actions.
- Where are you?
- How does the ambulance find you?
- Can the crew get to you?
- How are you going to get the patient to the ambulance
If you are in an isolated or challenging location where emergency response is difficult or delayed do you have the right kit with you and where is it? Could you get to it fast enough?
All of these things should be considered in your first aid training. Far better to plan and rehearse before you need to do it for real.
Remember in the case of a life threatening bleed or cardiac arrest you have just minutes to respond.
- Do your team know where your kit is?
- Do you know where your teams kit is?
When you are doing your first aid assessments or planning an adventure but all of your skills into context and ask your self - What if? Then train the right skills and drills.