First Aid courses that can help you save a life this holiday season

When passengers get injured in a motor vehicle accident, immediate help from bystanders can be the thin line between life and death. With the end-of-year holidays fast approaching, Ralmed Ambulance paramedics are beefing up resources for responding to the anticipated increase in the number of December motor vehicle accidents. Some factors contributing to a high number of motor vehicle accidents include drunk driving, speeding, and texting while driving.

Ralmed paramedics say that correct first aid given by other road users can reduce further injuries and the loss of life in motor vehicle accidents, while waiting for professional medical assistance to arrive. Ralmed believes that general road users need to learn basic first aid skills. In South Africa, first aid has traditionally been presented at three different levels: First Aid levels 1, 2, and 3. The topics covered in these courses include; performing CPR on infants, children, adults, splinting suspected fractures, and stopping bleeding, etc. The course duration varies for each first aid level. For more information visit https://ralmed.com

Paramedics say that they sometimes arrive at motor vehicle accident sites only to meet first aiders on the scene who did not assist the injured because of fear. Owen Man-hire, the director of Ralmed explained, “There is a feeling of a lack of self-confidence from some first aiders because of the differences between lecture room situations and reality. Many first aid courses are just theoretical hence they lack the practical skills and, most importantly, psychological preparedness.

“As a response to this, Ralmed has adopted presenting First Aid courses that use emergency simulation drills and simultaneously preparing the participants’ emotionally and teaching them about the potential psychological consequences that they can expect during and long after applying first aid.”

Man-hire believes Ralmed helps participants to develop self-confidence and correctly render emergency first aid care even at psychologically stressful accident scenes.

Owen Man-hire says, “With the help of first aid bystanders many urgent injuries from motor vehicle accidents are treated much faster. Therefore, road users must get an accredited first aid qualification” He mentioned that Ralmed is currently running awareness campaigns encouraging road users to check and restock their car’s first aid kits before the upcoming holidays. First Aid car kits can be bought online and in most pharmacies. To enquire about a first aid course, you can visit https://ralmed.com