Anything can happen in the blink of an eye, slips and falls on icy pavements, food going down the wrong way or a slip of a knife in the kitchen can all occur when we least expect it. Being prepared for when these things happen can mean the difference between carrying on easily or an injury getting worse. Some housing providers in the UK want to help you protect your family and community and are stepping up by offering first aid training for free.
First aid training can help people to think first and act fast in dangerous situations – these skills can be lifesaving. Astonishingly, the British Red Cross found that up to 59% of deaths caused by injury could have been avoided if first aid was given before the NHS arrived.
In their campaign, #DontStopAt 999 they’re raising awareness of how two easy actions taken after calling 999 could save someone’s life.
- Putting somebody who is unresponsive but still breathing on their side and tilting their head back to open up their airways
- Applying pressure to anybody heavily bleeding to stem the flow of blood
Signing up to a first aid course might seem daunting, but they only take a few hours or in some cases, a day to complete. Many are free and they can prepare people for when the unexpected happens and there isn’t easily accessible professional medical care available.
Aside from the obvious benefits of learning these skills, getting accredited for them can also boost your CV and increase your qualifications in the workplace.
Housing providers & local authorities
Housing providers and local authorities offer free training and education throughout the UK. Southwark Council for example, offer nationally recognised Level 2 Qualifications, not just in first aid but also in subjects like conflict resolution and personal safety or safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. Take a look at the full list here.
Nottingham City Homes
Nottingham City Homes is one of many housing associations in the UK providing free first aid training to their residents. With face-to-face learning being hard to achieve across 2020 and 2021, they have put together a collection of videos explaining techniques, which are freely available to everybody here. These videos give advice on how to deal with situations, such as how to help somebody with a heavily bleeding casualty, burns and scalds, or dealing with a suspected heart attack.
Online Learning
Whatever subject takes your fancy, somewhere on the internet there is a free course or tutorial video that can help you learn more. Through online learning platform Future Learn, the University of Glasgow offers a free two-week first aid course, all online. The course teaches basic first aid to turn any one of us into an everyday hero. Find that course here.
Understanding mental health
If 2020 showed us anything, it’s that it’s not just the physical emergencies we need to be equipped for. Mental health and exhaustion are just as damaging and dangerous as an accident or injury. The pandemic has worn many of us thin and Future Learn have also created a course to understand and help others with the psychological impact of COVID-19. Find that course here.
First aid for parents
According to UK charity First Aid for Life, 8 out of 10 parents wouldn’t know life-saving first aid techniques if their child was in danger. If you are a new parent or are supporting one, the British Red Cross have made a free baby and child first aid app. Find it here.
Accidents, big and small happen all the time. If all of us knew more about how to approach medical emergencies as naturally as we know how to treat small scrapes, cuts and stubbed toes, our families and communities would be safer. At a time when our NHS is under such pressure, having a little extra knowledge could go a long way to helping them out. Why not make this a new year’s resolution and get yourself some first aid training this January!
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