First Aid Training
Did my First Aid training today. I need it for my Body Pump training, you need to have up-to-date first aid.
I've done First Aid training before - first in 1999 for White Water Rafting, then more recently a kids focussed course.
The White Water Rafting course was a couple of very solid days. Even though it was officially a standard Level 2 First-Aid course, we spent a lot more time than usual dealing with long-term management, since a typical situation might involve being days away from emergency services, no contact with the outside world and everything soaking wet.
Still - there was a lot to remember. Making donut bandages, different counts for different ages with CPR.
Even the kids course a few years ago we still had donut bandages and CPR counts different depending on their ages.
Today's course - so much has changed! For a start, it was only a single day course for the full Level 2 First-Aid. It's called FastTrack. http://stjohnvic.com.au/pdfs/course_snr_fasttrack.pdf
First you get sent a link to a website where you pre-learn all the theoretical things you need to know.
http://e-learning.stjohn.org.au/
It's all available logged in as "Guest", so anyone can go in to the Senior First Aid section and view the application if they want to check up anything about First Aid. It's a Flash app that steps you slowly through all the information that's needed for the actual practical day.
The best bit is - they've radically simplified it. DRABC is now DRABCD - defibrillators are available a lot more, and they are "smart" - can pretty much run a CPR via a human - just switch it on, paste it to the body and follow the voice prompts. It "listens" to the heart and decides when it needs you to stop doing CPR and let it give a shock (you have to press a button for that to say you're not touching the body).
Speaking of which, CPR counts are now simple too. 30 pumps and 2 breaths. No matter what size the person, you just adjust the pressure of both to match the size of the person.
Why? Largely because people stand around trying to remember exact counts rather than getting on with it!
Donuts made out of triangular bandages? Out. Takes too long to make, and saying "have one premade in your kit" - what if the wound isn't the right size? By the time you've oh-so-cleverly made one up, the ambulance has already arrived.
It's a welcome relief. I'll be able to remember it this time!
I've done First Aid training before - first in 1999 for White Water Rafting, then more recently a kids focussed course.
The White Water Rafting course was a couple of very solid days. Even though it was officially a standard Level 2 First-Aid course, we spent a lot more time than usual dealing with long-term management, since a typical situation might involve being days away from emergency services, no contact with the outside world and everything soaking wet.
Still - there was a lot to remember. Making donut bandages, different counts for different ages with CPR.
Even the kids course a few years ago we still had donut bandages and CPR counts different depending on their ages.
Today's course - so much has changed! For a start, it was only a single day course for the full Level 2 First-Aid. It's called FastTrack. http://stjohnvic.com.au/pdfs/course_snr_fasttrack.pdf
First you get sent a link to a website where you pre-learn all the theoretical things you need to know.
http://e-learning.stjohn.org.au/
It's all available logged in as "Guest", so anyone can go in to the Senior First Aid section and view the application if they want to check up anything about First Aid. It's a Flash app that steps you slowly through all the information that's needed for the actual practical day.
The best bit is - they've radically simplified it. DRABC is now DRABCD - defibrillators are available a lot more, and they are "smart" - can pretty much run a CPR via a human - just switch it on, paste it to the body and follow the voice prompts. It "listens" to the heart and decides when it needs you to stop doing CPR and let it give a shock (you have to press a button for that to say you're not touching the body).
Speaking of which, CPR counts are now simple too. 30 pumps and 2 breaths. No matter what size the person, you just adjust the pressure of both to match the size of the person.
Why? Largely because people stand around trying to remember exact counts rather than getting on with it!
Donuts made out of triangular bandages? Out. Takes too long to make, and saying "have one premade in your kit" - what if the wound isn't the right size? By the time you've oh-so-cleverly made one up, the ambulance has already arrived.
It's a welcome relief. I'll be able to remember it this time!