Without practice first aid skills and knowledge can fade
Imagine the scenario: you completed your First aid at
work training a year ago, but now a first aid emergency has
arisen and your skills are called upon for the first time. Will you
remember 100% of what you learnt on your training course? Probably
not.
First aid skills fade has been a recognised issue for many
years. Keeping up to date with first aid skills may not seem like a
pressing issue when you’ve got so much else to deal with in the
working day, however, in a first aid emergency every second can
count. It’s important that you can recall what you’ve learnt as
quickly and as clearly as possible. The national target for the
emergency services is to reach 75% of medical emergencies within 8
minutes, but how quickly a casualty is treated in the first few
minutes of a cardiac arrest can be the difference between life and
death. For each minute that passes the chance of survival falls by
about 14%.
Skills are best retained by first aiders when taught through
practical training, such as a St John Ambulance Emergency first
at work or First aid at work course, rather than
lectures. However, taking a first aid course is just the beginning
and should not be seen as a one off occurrence. Most first aiders
find that without regular practice their skills and knowledge can
deteriorate and experts recommend every 6 to 12 months is the
optimal time for refresher training. Guidelines by the
International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation suggest that plans
for refresher training must always be included for lay people
learning basic life saving skills.
Watch our
video about skills fade and how St John Ambulance can help
prevent it.
Here are some ways to refresh your knowledge or practise your
skills:
-
Free or half price annual refresher course
Take advantage
of this offer if you have already carried out First aid at
work course or Emergency first aid at work course
with St John Ambulance
- Download our
free mobile app
The app gives easy to follow first aid advice on major and minor
emergencies. Available for iPhone®, BlackBerry® and AndroidTM
mobile devices
- Get together with first aider colleagues every few months to go
discuss or practise an aspect of your first aid training.
First aid skills refreshment doesn’t always have to take the
form of classroom training. In between face to face sessions you
can keep your knowledge up to date with innovative new online
earning methods like our first aid app and the fast-paced and fun
Rescue Run game, which
tests your first aid skills against the clock.
Remember completing a first aid course is just the beginning.
Keeping first aid skills refreshed with regular practice is
essential for confidence and quick response when the worst
happens.
St John Ambulance offers
first aid training and
health and safety training at over 230 training centres
throughout the country.