Why we can all benefit from knowing the basics of First Aid

You might want to wrap your loved ones up in cotton wool and remove all risk from their lives, but the fact is, no matter how hard you try, you can’t completely eliminate danger. This is why it’s so important to know the first aid basics. It can be impossible to predict if and when an emergency will occur, and if something does happen, you’ll need to act fast. Every year in the UK, thousands of people die as a result of accidents or health emergencies, and many of these fatalities could be prevented if effective first aid is given before an ambulance arrives.

All the gear but no idea

As it states on www.steroplast.co.uk, having a fully-stocked home first aid kit can help you to respond speedily to medical emergencies. The key word here though is can. These supplies are only useful in the hands of people who know how to use them. In fact, it’s possible to make people’s injuries worse if you try to offer treatment without knowing what you’re doing. So, if you want to ensure that you’re able to put your first aid supplies to good use in an emergency, it’s well worth booking yourself on to a first aid course. You can also check out the advice provided online by trusted sources like the NHS.

Hazards lurking around the home

With its comfy couches and soft carpets, your home might seem fairly innocuous, but in fact there are a whole host of hazards lurking in the typical family property. Everything from the contents of your fridge to your stairs and electrical sockets can pose a risk. For example, what if one of your brood was to choke on a piece of food, or suffer anaphylactic shock after eating something they’re allergic too? Poisoning caused by the ingestion of household cleaning products or overdoses of medicines can also put people at risk. Then there are the dangers associated with taking a tumble down the stairs or slipping over in the shower. Cuts from scissors or knives, burns from the oven and scalds from hot water are also things to be wary of. Of course, this is just the top of the iceberg. There are countless other potential dangers to consider.

Medical complaints where every second counts

As well as accidents, it’s important to be prepared for severe and sudden health complications. For example, would you know what to do if one of your loved ones suffered a stroke? Each year in Britain, around 110,000 people suffer these emergencies and it’s the third largest cause of death. Although strokes mainly affect older people, they can happen at any age and sometimes occur in children. If you know the first aid basics, you should be able to spot the early signs of strokes and get help straight away. 

Heart attacks are another worry. According to the British Heart Foundation, around 50,000 men and 32,000 women have a heart attack each year in England alone. Fast and effective first aid is vital in these cases. It can make the difference between life and death.

Given these facts and figures, it’s easy to see why getting to grips with the essentials of first aid is so important. Even if you’re lucky enough never to have to put your skills to use, you’ll benefit from the added peace of mind that comes from knowing that if an emergency was to arise, you’d be able to respond in the right way.

 

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