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Practical First Aid Training

The British Red Cross and other health and employment organizations throughout the United Kingdom offer practical first-aid training. Practical first-aid training courses instruct persons on how to deal with basic health emergencies that may occur in infants, children and adults, such as choking or burns. Class sizes are typically small to ensure individualized attention and demonstration.

  1. Students

    • Students in practical first-aid courses vary. Some British schools require students as young as 10 years old to participate in practical first-aid classes. Many businesses and organizations require their employees to learn practical first aid in case of an emergency. Often, people who are not affiliated with any group attend the course simply because they want to learn proper emergency skills and protocol.

    Class Structure

    • Practical first-aid courses use various methods and materials to teach students the necessary skills to respond in emergency situations. Methods and materials may include films, live demonstrations, books and pamphlets. Instructors may facilitate discussions and encourage students to ask questions. To ensure students understand the material, attendees are typically required to take regular tests and quizzes. At the end of the course, a certificate is usually awarded to reflect the student's achievement.

    Topics

    • Practical first-aid students typically receive instruction on a combination of subjects, including human anatomy and systems, recording blood pressure, pulse and temperature, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, external cardiac massage, choking, bleeding, poisoning, fractures, dislocations, fainting, frostbite and hypothermia, heat stroke, electric shock, head injury, asphyxiation, strains, sprains, burns, abrasions, animal bites and stings, and allergic reactions.

    Skills

    • Students in practical first-aid courses typically learn special skills and procedures to save people's lives and help maintain health and safety in emergencies. Students learn how to assess emergencies and act safely, quickly and effectively. Students learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and first-aid practices for victims who are choking, unconscious, wounded and bleeding, in shock or suffering from minor injuries such as cuts, bruises, grazes, burns or splinters. Students also learn first-aid protocol for the treatment of shock, heart attack, stroke, asthma, fractures, epilepsy, anaphylactic shock, diabetes, meningitis, croup, angina and convulsions.

    Certification

    • After completing courses in practical first aid, students are given certificates to indicate their skills, knowledge and competency. The length of the class and duration of the certificate validity depend on the administrator of the course. For example, the course offered through the British Red Cross lasts 14 hours, and certificates issued are valid for three years.

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