How First Aid Training Helps You Address Medical Emergencies In Seniors

First aid can do more than just save lives. When you provide first aid immediately, a person’s recovery time can be reduced—which can make a big difference between a patient having a long-term disability or a temporary one.

Moreover, first aid training lets you know how to make a patient feel more comfortable. There may be medical conditions, accidents, or injuries that don’t have to be treated at the hospital, but that doesn’t mean a patient feels okay. You can do simple techniques to relieve a patient’s discomfort, such as applying an ice pack on a child’s bruised arm or applying a compression wrap to an athlete’s sprained ankle.

First aid knowledge is especially essential when working with older adults who are vulnerable and prone to accidents, such as cuts, scrapes, and falls. By knowing how to perform basic first aid procedures, you’ll be able to manage a patient’s emergency situation while waiting for a medic to arrive.

If you’re planning to learn how to administer first aid, you can receive basic training from an accredited institution. There are many first aid training programs you’ll come across. Choose one that suits your needs. For instance, you can choose a first aid training provider that offers first aid at work courses if you want to promote safety in the workplace.

You can also enroll in courses that will allow you to be more prepared for emergency situations involving older adults. Read on to learn how first aid training can help you address medical emergencies in seniors.

Understanding how to handle situations quickly

About 64 out of 100,000 seniors each year die from fall-related accidents, and the numbers keep increasing. This huge number is a result of delayed or improper first aid care. You can help reduce this number by having sufficient first aid training. One of the things you’ll learn during first aid training is how to respond to emergencies quickly and help ensure the situation doesn’t worsen.

In addition, the way you respond to an emergency can cause a significant impact. For example, if a senior citizen gets into an accident, you can calm them down as you attend to their injuries.

Saving lives

Administering first aid can save the life of a senior in an emergency. When you receive the proper first aid training, you’re more confident, reliable, and in control while handling an emergency. These qualities are crucial, especially in urgent medical emergencies, such as smoke inhalation and burns.

As mentioned earlier, people older than 65 are vulnerable and prone to life-threatening accidents or health issues. In fact, about 24,000 Australians go into sudden cardiac arrests, with the majority being elderly. With proper first aid training, you’ll be equipped to handle this kind of situation and possibly save a life.

Boosting your confidence to offer care

Emergencies can be scary, especially when the victim is elderly, but having skills to handle the situation can help you gain confidence. First aid training boosts your confidence to handle tough situations that require quick thinking and action. In addition, it will be easy for you to calm a patient when you feel confident in your skills. Plus, confidence allows you to stay focused when providing care to a patient.

Preparing for emergencies

First aid training prepares you for different kinds of emergencies when caring for seniors. There are many courses on first aid, and some are classified according to the target group. For instance, you can enroll in first aid training for seniors where the program is tailor-made to their unique needs and special care. This allows you to be ready to deal with various emergency situations should they occur.

With training, you can develop basic first aid skills too, such as CPR. Since care facilities should be a safe environment for seniors, you need to have the necessary skills to promote safety.

Providing a safe environment

Falls make up 40% of injury deaths in older people, so you need to be aware of the environment and possible accident hazards for seniors.

First aid training can teach you to provide a safer environment for the elderly. With the knowledge you gain from training, you can ensure that the environment is clear of anything that might cause an accident, such as wet and slippery floors, items left lying on the floor, and exposed power lines.

Conclusion

First aid training is a basic requirement, especially when your work involves senior citizens. By knowing how to administer first aid, you’ll be able to help a lot of people—not just the elderly.