how many of us are first aid trained?

[rik_uk3]

Though I am currently a final year nursing student (ex-HCA of 8 years) with 16 weeks to go till qualifying, I have no first-aid certificate, only the internal NHS CPR/Trauma course. About to do the ALERT course in December.

It always amuses me when people ask, that Nurses and Doctors are NOT actually trained in First-Aid as part of their pre-registration coursework.

I declined the poll, as though I am not OFFICIALLY first-aid trained, I do use first-aid skills on an almost daily basis within the remit of the NHS.

Good luck with your training, and the ALERT course is worth a day of your time, though not First Aid helpful to be honest unless you carry O2 etc with you When you qualify though, it would be well worth doing a good First Aid Course, your Degree won't make you a good first aider when out and about to be honest. I went into nursing as a very mature student, trust me when I say that First Aid in the field is many miles away from a ward based scenario.

When your out camping with your chums, it may be that you won't have any backup to speak of, nobody to grab dressings, call a doctor to help who will be there in minutes etc; its a whole new world in the open.

What are you doing your dissertation on ?

 

[prosperer _dans_ la_ fore]

i got first aid at work and lifesupport 3 with the rlss.

 

[Lodian]

I am have done it through cadets , handy to have. Looks good on a cv.

Would like to do one of the wilderness courses though.

Lodian

 

[Dana Hawkeye]

Rik_uk3

I am doing the Diploma not the Degree pre-reg course, so I dont do a dissertation. My course is through The Open University. I know that Nursing is different from first-aid par se, but is still useful in other areas of bush medical scenarios. Though we dont cover first-aid in the general course sense, we do cover a lot of the same ground in a round-about-way. I am ex-forces so have done the 'basic' compulsory first-aid course in the past.

I intend to do a wilderness medicine course as well as the Tropical Nursing course post-reg in the next couple of years.

Thanks for the good luck

Dana

 

[spiritofold]

I should have more firstaid knowhow, im really lacking.

 

[Rothley Bill]

Just got back from renewing mine tonight.

 

[CAL]

I've two first aid qualifications and teach both of them but I can only use them on BSAC divers even though 95% of the stuff on the course is not specifically diving related.

 

[rik_uk3]

Rik_uk3

I am doing the Diploma not the Degree pre-reg course, so I dont do a dissertation. My course is through The Open University. I know that Nursing is different from first-aid par se, but is still useful in other areas of bush medical scenarios. Though we dont cover first-aid in the general course sense, we do cover a lot of the same ground in a round-about-way. I am ex-forces so have done the 'basic' compulsory first-aid course in the past.

I intend to do a wilderness medicine course as well as the Tropical Nursing course post-reg in the next couple of years.

Thanks for the good luck

Dana

I've had a look at the OU course, marvellous stuff. In Wales its a Degree only route into Nursing which is crazy. My daughter had a baby this year, so needs to go back in March to finish off her degree in Mental Health Nursing. Her mom, SHMBO, is a senior mental health nurse (Lead Nurse in Therapeutic Care) for the local Trust, keep at it Dana, you will be rewarded in the future for your efforts

 

[Dana Hawkeye]

Thanks Rik_uk3

Nearly there now, just a few weeks (16 wks) and a couple of assignments to go. I will be glad when this course is done and dusted to be honest. I am hoping to go into Surgical Nursing or possibly Community Nursing. I will have to wait and see where the jobs are in the new year.

regards
Dana

 

[DKW]

Nice thread. And i agree: you are never fully trained.

In Denmark we haven't got all those bents in first aid training. Most of it is the same principles, just a different environment. (well. We do have specialists courses, but then we are mainly talking pro's)

I have trained first aid since i was a cub scout. Got the first "proper" course in the army, and have been maintaining that ever since. I also train people in first aid for military aswell as civvy use. (basically the same, with very few dont's added)

Never done learning though. Just 2 years back they changed the entire CPR and respiratory routine. Now you cannot perform mouth-to mouth (or mouth-to-nose) without CPR. Those two go hand in hand.

Actually it was based upon a british survey done at some hospital. They had a couple people lying on operating-tables, all covered up apart from the primary places where you might feel for a pulse.
Then they brought in a lot of people one by one, and told them to take the pulse of the subjects, note their findings down, and move on to the next subject.
Amongst the people where medics (civvy and army), nurses, docs and normal people.

Allmost all of the people had noted very specific data of pulsefrequenzy and "strongness" thereoff. Only thing was, the subjects where infact heatet corpses.

Or at least that is what i was told, so i will not guarantee wether it is true or not.
Since the heart will stop beating very rapidly after the subject has stopped breathing, there is no telling wether or not the subject actually has a heartbeat or not.

Ever since then mouth-to-mouth and CPR goes hand in hand, and now don't go saying you could stop the heart from beating by doing cpr. You would have cracked every ribbone in the body before that happens. (again, this is what i have been tought, so no validation from me i'm afraid)

 

[subedarmajor]

only got appointed persons but it is current.

 

[_Geraint_]

I've got a cert in Emergency First Aid, it's geared towards outdoors injury's.

 

[*Big Beast*]

P.A.D.I. Medic First Aid Instructor & D.A.N. Oxygen First Aid Instructor

 

[Chris G]

I've been waiting a while to post on this thread.

My last FA training (Medic First Aid Care Initiator & Tower Rescue) tickets were up in 2006, but as of yesterday I've just completed the 4 day St Johns Ambulance FA in the work place course. The two best things about this are firstly that St Johns cover you for 3 years with £10m public indemnity from successful completion of the course (for free) , and secondly that the trainer had been doing a first aid in the great outdoors type course last week so could give me a few additional helpful tips .

Chris

 

[clownman]

im a scout leader, so I have to hold a current first response certificate, however i was trained years ago by st johns ambulance for work, which was a lot more in depth but has now expired

 

[Shingsowa]

Like young Sleepy Weasel, i'm Mountain Rescue Council Cas Care qual'd. Hopefully going to get my **** in gear and take the Advanced later this year.

Then i get an even bigger med pack to lug around mountains with me!

I've used it 'in anger' both on jobs and at RTCs etc. I would advise everybody to take even a basic course. You might not be able to do much more than call an ambulance etc afterwards, but chances are you'll be able to be calmer and more controlled when you do it!

 

[Melonfish]

St Johns for me but has since long lapsed. i really need to get it sorted again its valuable stuff.
pete

 

[Mabinogion]

i don't have any proper training but i do know what to do as my father taught me (he's done plenty of courses for his work), but am looking forward to a free course from st.johns with the duke of ed in a couple of months

 

[Wild Thing]

I've got a basic first aid certificate at the moment, but was more highly qualified at my previous employer.

Also had experience when hill walking of treating a few people on the hills and mountains of Wales.

Phill

 

[BossCat]

Humm! aint trainer in any medical stuff. I did pass & get a bronze medal for life saving but that was many many years ago.
I think if I fell into deep water today I'd need someone to save me

TC