I passed my first aid course

[mollykins]

All six of us cadets plus the instructor who was renewing his certificate passed our frist aid course.

Something to put on the CV plus it gives me lots of points as it was equivilent to doing 3rd, 2nd and 1st class (3,6,10 points) plus I might get my heartstart certificate seeing as I did CPR. I had just over 30 (took me a year and a half to get), so now I've got about 50!

How many of you are first aiders?

[supersuezy24]

Wish I was, would be brilliant to have

[Sqad]

I was.......50years ago........but probably useless at it now.....LOL

[TheOtherHalf]

Im a first aider and have been for 35 years. Always taking refresher courses as it is changing all the time.

Well done mollykins

[Sqad]

molly.....I remember we had to learn where the "pressure points" were to arrest bleeding and I remember that a fractured femur had 8 bandages strategically placed. LOL

Well done molly.

[Mamyalynne]

Well done Molly.

Matron

[scotman]

Congratulations Mollykins.
Have you been able to find the news report of your trip to Whitehills? I occasionally look at the Banffshire Journal but nothing so far.

[NoMercy]

Well done, Molly. Bobjugs may need some first aid if he keeps posting as me...

[marval]

Well done molly, a good certificate to have.

[anneasquith]

excellent, now you need someone to practice on, and remember dont go anywhere without a triangular bandage,

[mollykins]

thanks everyone.

Nope scotman, I haven't seen anything, from either newspapers!

[mollykins]

Squad we didn't have to do that. I did it with st johns, activity first aid. We had a book that was community first aid but some of the things like meninjitus we didn't do.

But we covered; hygeine, order of treatment (for lots of casualties or lots of things wrong with one person or a bit of both), cuts, bruises, burns, extremes of heat illnesses, sprains, strains, dislocations, broken bones, heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks, allergic reactions, choking, unconsciousness, fainting, shock, the recovery position, CPR (for all ages) the primary survey, LIONEL (for calling 999) and I think thats about it.

[Buenchico]

You need to watch out for the trickier questions in first aid exams, Molly.

When I was taking a 'refresher' exam, the examiner asked me whether a casualty should ever be given anything by mouth. i think that he was expecting the standard answer of 'No' but I stated that it would depend upon the circumstances. I suggested that if you were at the top of a mountain, with someone who'd broken their leg, you might know that it would be some time before the casualty could be treated at hospital so it was largely irrelevant if you delayed any potential surgical procedure by giving something by mouth. However if the casualty was starting to suffer from exposure it would be vital to get his blood sugar level up as soon as possible and therefore ESSENTIAL to give something (such as a Mars bar or glucose drink) by mouth. The examiner just nodded and smiled. It was only after the exam finished that he told me that he was the doctor with the Edale Mountain Rescue Team and that I was the first person ever to give the correct answer to that question ;-)

[Eve]

I've done all sorts of courses over the years to include Red Cross, St John's Ambulance and Bronze and Silver Medallion. I used to do a lot of outdoors activities, rock climbing, canoeing, riding, cadets etc... and have done a lot of voluntary work including at a hospice and with the severely disabled so always a crucial skill to have.

I try to keep refreshed too as even though my body can't do the things I used to, I try and support others as much as possible, most recently being part of a support team for some friends doing the Welsh 3000s (15 peaks above 3000 feet in under 24 hours).

It really does come in useful, most poignantly for me some years ago while doing a few weeks of residential volunteering with the severely disabled. I heard a noise outside and asked a fellow volunteer to check out the window. He said one of the guests was outside. I asked if he was ok to be told he was fine, just having a snooze.

Something bugged me so I investigated further, especially when I found an empty alcohol glass near him. Remembering he was diabetic I tried to rouse him then had to nearly drag a nurse out as I was concerned (the general consensus was to just let him be, he was just having a kip). By the time I got someone to indulge me and check his blood sugar it was on the floor and we ended up having to literally squeeze emergency bags of glucose into his mouth to bring him round.

A little knowledge, training and instinct can go a long way and you never know when you might hold someone's life in your hands.

[237SJ]

Well done Molly. i`m a first aider (and can prescribe some drugs as well). I`ve always said first aid should be compulsory at school because it`s a good skill to have.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Well done.
Every time I've refreshed the CPR method has been different.

[society]

I agree first aid is a good skill to have and it should be taught in all schools.
Also I think the Heimlich Maneuver is another aid which everyone should know how to administer.

[society]

Ooops forget to say congrats Mollygirl!

[RainbowPrism]

Im also a trained, qualified First Aider for 2 years now...it is invaluable and I feel proud knowing that I could help save a life.....

[RATTER15]

I qualified for a fist aider years ago, I had to use it in an attempt to resuscitate somebody but to no avail, she died of a hemorrhage of the brain, nothing I done could have saved her.
that event was probably one of the most traumatic events of my life, It left me emotionally drained for weeks, but I tried, if I didn't now what or how to do it I would have felt guilty for the rest of my life!

Everybody should learn basic CPR method, you may need it to resuscitate a family member or a loved one, one day. Its better then standing by and watching somebody die I promise.

[RATTER15]

Gratz Molly!!, you will need it one day for sure!