Students’ safety in high school and colleges is one of the top priorities of teachers, lecturers, parents, and the government. Training your staff and students on basic first aid skills can help improve safety in schools tremendously.
First aid skills are important in offering quick responses to injuries before paramedics arrive or administering specialized treatment. Without a prompt response, a minor injury can escalate to more severe complications and even loss of life.
To promote safety among students and staff, it is essential to train and make everyone aware of the first aid basics they should apply in case of an accident in school.
This post will help you understand First Aid and outline the reasons for having first aid training in colleges and the benefits of having a first aider on site.
What is First Aid?
First Aid is the immediate assistance given to a person experiencing either a severe or minor injury. It is performed to preserve the loss of life, promote recovery or prevent the condition from getting worse before offering specialized treatment.
Performing basic First Aid procedures can go a long way in controlling the situation before the emergency medical service arrives. All that is needed is a complete First Aid kit and the use of the essentials appropriately.
The basic First Aid skills help in treating the following injuries and conditions:
- Burns
- Heatstroke
- Nose bleeding
- Head injuries
- Choking
- Joint injuries
- Asthma
- Joint injuries
- Allergic reactions
- Fainting
- Unresponsiveness
- Bone injuries
The Importance of First Aid Training in Schools
1. It Promotes a Sense of Safety
Students and school staff with sound knowledge of First Aid skills are more alert because they avoid being exposed or becoming vulnerable to injuries or accidents.
The training promotes their sense of safety and makes them capable of assessing casualties and managing any eventualities. The more students become aware of the injuries, illness, and treatments, the higher their consciousness rates improve.
Moreover, students with basic first aid skills feel secure because they can treat and handle themselves in the event of an emergency.
Additionally, they are trusted by people around them, like fellow students, friends, and family.. Having trained students with basic first aid skills within the school allows individuals to relax and remain calm in emergencies.
2. Quick Treatment and Prevents the Condition from Escalating
First Aid is the immediate help offered to a victim experiencing an injury. Some injuries do not need specialized or professional assistance and can be treated using basic methods like applying ice packs to reduce bleeding or muscle pains.
Despite being a temporary help, First Aid still plays a central role in preventing the condition from escalating to worse or severe. Well-trained students will apply all the possible methods to keep the situation under control until professional assistance arrives.
Well-trained first aiders will put every effort into ensuring the victim copes with the pain or illness until the emergency medical service is on-site.
3. Legal Safety Requirement
To effectively implement health and safety measures in schools, the institution’s management needs to understand that their environment is considered a workplace. Therefore, they are required to comply with the set legislative requirements.
Apart from the usual medical cover, all the workplaces (including schools) are obligated to ensure maximum health and safety measures are implemented in their premises. First aid skills form one of the major areas of health and safety codes.
There are various regulations about First Aid in the health and safety acts that put employers responsible for offering first aid training and availing the required emergency response resources.
Though legally, schools only have to offer the training to staff only. Giving basic first aid training helps institutions become compliant with the set workplace health and safety standards.
4. It Helps Preserve Life
A well-trained first aider aims to preserve life while waiting for emergency medical services to arrive. When the 3Ps are applied, it can help save the victim within the crucial times of injury and the arrival of paramedics.
The 3Ps of First Aid
These are the first and top priority in the first-aid procedure; they include, preserve life, prevent worsening and promote recovery.
Preserve
The immediate responsibility of the first responder or a bystander is to preserve the victim’s life by giving first aid treatments. After assessing and securing the area of any danger, the C-A-B procedure should be started immediately.
Check the air circulation, the airway and confirm if the victim is breathing. If necessary, perform CPR to rescue breathing.
Additionally, remove foreign bodies and assess if the injured person has visible wounds to avoid exposure to the risk of contracting STDs if either party is infected.
Prevent the Condition from Worsening
The victim must be put in a recovery position and ensure they are stable. Their condition should not worsen before paramedics arrive.
The responsibilities of the rescuer include placing the victim in a safe and comfortable position, preventing further injuries, providing comfort, and applying first aid skills.
Promote Recovery
After performing first aid procedures, the rescuer should encourage the victim to remain confident and ease the pain by trying the possible recovery processes.
Though there are many responsibilities the first responder needs to do, recalling and applying these 3Ps of first aid will help them prioritize important things to the victim.
Conclusion
Children are at higher risk of experiencing injuries in schools, whether minor or severe. Apart from easing the pain and preventing the condition from escalating, first aid can save a life.
Equipping staff with basic first aid skills through CPR and First Aid training can help reduce school mortality rates, improve students’ confidence, create safety awareness in the school, and enhance safe living.
