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What Are the Benefits of First Aid Training?

Being trained in first aid can carry lots of responsibility and lots of benefits. In dangerous situations first aid training can make the difference in life or death, so learn about the benefits you can get from taking a few simple courses that could keep you prepared and help save a life.

  1. A Safer Home

    • Whether you are a newlywed couple or a family of five, first aid training in the home can greatly increase your family's safety. Should an accident occur in your home, having proper first aid training could make all the difference. While it's important for parents to have training, children can also take courses such as CPR, fire safety and AED (Automated External Defibrillator). Training your children will not only increase their personal safety, but yours as well if you are ever injured.

    A Safer Workplace

    • Many businesses are required to give employees training in first aid, and there are many benefits of having employees complete training such as CPR and injury prevention. In the case of an emergency in the workplace, the more employees who are first-aid trained the better the chance that one will be present if an accident occurs. If there is an accident, an employee who has received first aid training may be able to prevent further injury. Employees who are first-aid trained are also more likely to be more knowledgeable and conscious of safe behavior in the business environment, thus preventing injuries in the first place.

    Surviving Disaster

    • Natural disasters, like hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and blackouts, can occur anywhere. Knowing how to handle them could increase your chances of survival. Many centers, like the American Red Cross, offer courses on preparing for such catastrophes and instruct you on how to keep you and your family safest in such an event.

    Safety for Your Baby

    • For childcare-givers and first-time parents, infant first aid training is integral in ensuring a baby's safety. First aid training for infants and young children is different than it is for adults because young children, especially infants, often cannot express when something is wrong with them. Infant-care first aid can instruct childcare-givers on what signs to look for and how exactly to respond. There's also a difference in the application of CPR on infants and young children. While you may be certified in adult CPR, child CPR requires different training and steps, so learn both in order to increase your chance of being able to help a person of any age in an accident.

    Places to Get Trained

    • The American Red Cross offers a comprehensive list of courses you can take that cover everything from CPR to HIV/AIDS Education. You can contact your local American Red Cross to find out more about their schedule and courses. In the workplace you can often receive training free of charge thanks to OSHA laws that require employers to provide first aid training. Also check local hospitals, which often offer free courses to the community.

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