Medical scenarios

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I used to teach first aid at work and basic first responder courses about 25 years ago and it was a consideration then, so I don’t think it’s a new, or growing concern. I never paid it much mind, mind you I have professional indemnity and liability insurance, but then I also have the concept of the ‘Good Samaritan (SARAH act?)’ to fall back on which covers HCPS and doctors for off-duty aid rendered? And other professionals I think, but I can’t remember

I believe the Good Samaritan act covers any trained medical professional which includes first aiders. Maybe just the providers I have gone to recently, they seem to be making more of a point of it now than I can remember.
 
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I don't think anyone is saying this replaces getting proper 1st aid training but could augment it. No course can deliver everything so many of us revert to books to go beyond the basic FAW and suchlike. I personally went on one of @Wayne 's excellent week long first aid courses before leading an overland trip out into Africa but I still welcome a refresher on some of the topics now and then.

You’re not wrong but I would argue that the framework that the course is based around should give you all the tools you would need for any eventuality.

Provided you work within the remit of the course, and the standard that you are assessed to of course. And if you work outside of that then a different training course or additional units should have been taken instead/as well as.
 
Ah, so someone trained in basic first aid should not attempt to stop arterial blood flow because they've only read how to do it or seen a video of it? I respectfully disagree, no matter what the litigation situation may or may not be (and, on all the training I have done, it's been stated that no litigation action has ever been applied in the UK). There is a huge difference between someone in a professional environment (and that may include outdoor pursuits instructors) failing to apply 'correct procedure' and a non-professional doing their best but getting it wrong IMO.

On top of that, none of us can predict the scenario we may encounter. Basic FAW is woefully inadequate for anything but the odd cut and bruise but I hope most people trained to that level wouldn't walk past someone bleeding to death!

Oh dear, I've slipped into the very activity that I forecast in my first post :)
 
I am not trained in first aid though I did pick up a few basic nursing skills in having to look after my mum, and I was pretty good with bed sores and lifting and moving arthritic patients, which takes a lot of care and having lived amongst disabled people I know the does and don't of dealing with epileptic people for instance.

Arterial bleeds scare me though, I know the basic principle of applying pressure, and when I had a angiogram the hospital had a very clever device that used the power of a vacuum to seal an open artery. Trends change in first aid too, mouth to mouth which was a big thing back in the day is no longer taught and it is chest compression now, and if it is not strong enough to break the ribs you are not doing it right :)
 
I totally agree. Someone doing their best but getting it wrong is I think the essence of the Good Samaritan act. And it’s great that that is recognised and there are laws protecting individuals.

As for arterial blood flow, that would be covered on any first aid course. It’s one of the main priorities of preserving life. And whilst a very serious event, can (and has) led to things like misuse of tourniquets for example. I think there’s a fine line between giving your own experience anecdotally with a view of learning from it and inadvertently offering incorrect advise. I hope that makes sense?
 
Trends change in first aid too, mouth to mouth which was a big thing back in the day is no longer taught and it is chest compression now, and if it is not strong enough to break the ribs you are not doing it right :)

Prime example just written here. Perfect! (I’m not picking on you Laurentius, sorry)

Unfortunately rescue breaths were never “out” and have always been taught. The confusion came about because incidents occurred where people failed to do any CPR due to the fact they were too uncomfortable to give rescue breaths. Subsequently changing the statistics on resuscitation. This led to an advertising campaign in order to help people realise that doing something was better than nothing.
 
I’m also be interested in field procedures that worked however unconventional.

Poultices are not considered as first aid these days but an old survivor of the Spanish civil war told me how an injury that looked very bloody was in fact a plum jam poultice.
 

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