Posted by Keri Hartwright Last updated 10th October 2022 reading time
Why is first aid important?
CPR saves another Iife
I stopped working for the NHS in a substantive role about 5 years ago, though I have kept my skills up to date through working clinically. Â I have always loved teaching and embarked on extending my first aid training further.
First aid  when carried out correctly can literally make the difference between life and death. It is vital that we know what to do if we need it.
When I became a parent the knowledge I wanted to share was the knowledge of how to carry out firstaid and possibly to save a life, and this morning I had more feedback that the skills I teach actually work
I just wanted to get in touch as you taught me (and a few other xxxx staff) paediatric first aid a couple of years back. During the session you showed a video of a boy on a beach showing agonal breathing. I only mention this as 2 weeks ago, a gentleman had a cardiac arrest outside of my school. I was one of the first on scene and because of your training I was quickly able to start CPR. Because you showed me that video, I was quickly able to recognise how serious the situation was and people at the scene even said 'it is ok, here is breathing.' I knew this wasn't true and started CPR immediately. I was given compressions for 3-4 minutes and in that time someone had got a defibrillator for us. He got shocked twice before the first responder, paramedic crew and air ambulance arrived. Despite actually being dead for 15 minutes, I am delighted to say he has made a full recovery and I even visited him at his home last week.
So I just wanted to say a huge thank you for your training and guidance, because of this, and because of that video, the man is still alive today. I just wanted to share this as you might not always get success stories.
Early recognition and call for help
We talk about the chain of survival when teaching first aid and CPR. Â Early recognition is so important. Confidence to assess a Casualty and recognise that they need urgent support. Get help, ask someone to call help.
Dial 999 or 112 and tell them what you are worried about and most importantly where you are.
Early CPR
Once you recognise that sometime is not breathing start doing CPR.  That person’s life is literally in your hands and you need to act.
Press hard and fast in the centre of their chest. Â This will get the blood circulating round their body and keep their brain supplied with oxygen.
Early defibrillation
Familiarise yourself with the location of the nearest AED. Â They can be found in schools, GP practises, dental surgeries, train stations and supermarkets for example.
Getting these to someone who is in cardiac arrest as quick as you can it is vital
Get them to hospital
Once help is on the way you keep going until
Help arrives
You get exhausted
They respond.
Learn CPR Now
Our first aid courses all cover CPR and AED use which we spend time practising and discussing. Â Hopefully this will not be something you need to practise but it is useful to know how to undertake the skill.
