I have always been curious about the procedures involved in First Aid training. What techniques are the most important when faced with a person in medical distress? What is the most appropriate way to act when seconds could mean the difference between life and death for someone?

Recently, I was invited to attend a daylong session of Standard First Aid *HCP put on by The Casualty Care First Aid Company.

What I found to be so impressive about the course is spelled out in the organization’s mission statement… ‘to use plenty of casualty simulation to gain hands on experience for the students’. The simulations are quite realistic and certainly make for an interesting and interactive learning experience.

During the course, I was impressed with the wide range of topics covered. We started the day by learning how to assess a scene when stumbling upon an emergency situation, the important facts to know when calling 911, and how to determine the level of consciousness of someone in distress.

We then delved into identifying the different types of external bleeding, specifically capillary, venous and arterial. How to handle penetrating injuries (i.e. treatment for embedded objects), the proper wrapping of wounds, accidents resulting in amputations, closed wounds (when an injury doesn’t break the skin), and different bruise types were also addressed in great detail.

In addition to trauma caused by sudden injury, the course was inclusive of pre-existing medical conditions. We learned how to treat a victim of diabetes suffering from exceptionally low blood sugar and the symptoms of seizures, strokes and heart attacks.

As I do not have enough space in this article to share all my newfound knowledge, I will leave you with a glimpse of how some of my preconceived notions were corrected. For instance, did you know that you could go overboard when cooling a burn and actually cause hypothermia? Turns out that hypothermia is a lot easier to get than you’d think. Also, it is important to be sparing when using ice to cool a burn so as not to get frostbite. By the same token, applying Vaseline or butter actually keeps the heat in, as they are both oil-based products.

No Standard First Aid course in our area would be complete without some discussion of the perils of winter’s most extreme cold. Now I can finally say that I’m a victim of frostnip! If you are also prone to freezing hands when the temperature takes a dive, rest assured you are not alone. So please join me as I learn my lesson that throwing cold and numb hands under hot water is not the wisest thing to do. In more extreme cases of frostbite, I also learned that rubbing your hands together could actually cause more damage. 

Since we live so close to the Bruce Peninsula where rattlesnakes have been known to roam, we even spoke briefly about the common myth of treating snakebites. Contrary to popular belief, sucking the venom out of a bite is not recommended.

There is much more to learn and it is up to you when it comes to the level of intensity you are seeking. The Casualty Care First Aid Company offers one or two-day courses with different areas of focus for certification. Visit their website for a full schedule of courses being offered over the next few months in and around our area. The theory is articulated in a relatable and easy-to-learn manner and the simulations are a lot of fun. Best of all, you may very well save a life down the road.

- Jamie Pettit