If you’ve enrolled on a first aid course, then give yourself credit for taking an important first step to knowing what to do in a medical emergency.

To give you a head start, we’ve pulled together some first aid common questions that reflect some of the most frequently touched-on topics.

Once you’ve read through our first aid training FAQs, you’ll feel more confident about setting foot in the classroom and making the most of your learning opportunity.

1. How can I be confident that I’m doing the right thing?

When faced with a medical emergency “in real life”, it’s very common for any first aider to doubt their own abilities and wonder if they’re doing the right thing.

The very fact that you have booked on a first aid course shows that you have taken the first step to accessing the skills and knowledge you need to help people.

Your first aid course will cover the most common emergencies and will also focus on the competencies you need to treat them through scenarios and role-plays. Because first aid is a practical skill, you should practise what you have learned outside of the classroom too.

This will give you the confidence to carry out first aid when the time comes.

2. What should I do if I’m alone with someone in a medical emergency?

In this case, it’s useful to understand the DRSABCD action plan to help you know what to do. It’s a tool that takes you through the steps to take when treating someone in a medical emergency.

The first steps to follow are these:

  • Danger: Check that the area is clear of any danger to yourself and the patient.
  • Response: Check for a response from the patient by asking their name and squeezing their shoulders. If there’s no response, get help. If there is a response, continue to practise first aid.
  • Send for help: At this point, if you are alone with the patient and need to leave to get help, you should put them in the recovery position.

You can read more about these and the remaining DRSABCD steps in this fact sheet produced by St John Ambulance Australia.

3. How can I stop heavy bleeding?

  • If the patient is experiencing heavy bleeding, follow the DRSABCD steps.
  • Put gloves on if available and help the patient lie down. Remove their clothing if necessary for access to their wound.
  • Apply firm, continuing pressure on the bleeding wound with your hands and using a pad or dressing if available.
  • If there is an object in the wound, apply pressure on either side.
  • When bleeding is controlled, secure the pad over the wound, or around any embedded object, then bandage firmly.
  • Continue to monitor the patient and call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.

4. Does CPR work?

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is used when a patient is not breathing normally or if their heart has stopped.

The procedure uses chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to keep the blood circulating and deliver oxygen around the patient’s body until help is available.

While the death rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients is high at 90%, if CPR and a defibrillator are used within minutes of an arrest, the survival rate improves.

In fact, for every minute that ticks by without defibrillation and CPR, the chances of survival decrease by 7 to 10%.

This means that CPR, especially when combined with defibrillation, is an invaluable first aid skill.

It’s also important to keep your skills up to date, so it’s recommended to take a refresher course every 12 months.

5. What should I have in my first aid kit?

A well-stocked first aid kit is essential for the home and workplace.

While this list is not exhaustive, your kit should contain these vital items:

  • CPR mask
  • Nitrile or vinyl gloves
  • Sterile wound dressings in various sizes
  • Bandages
  • Bandage shears
  • Antiseptic spray
  • Saline solution
  • Ice packs
  • Emergency blanket

Make regular checks to ensure that your first aid kit is well stocked, and keep it in a prominent and easily accessible place.

Helping you to help others

Feeling more confident? Now that you’ve understood the most frequently asked first aid questions, you can make the most of your course.

And the more you practise your new skills, the more confident you feel in a medical scenario.

You can also feel prepared by ensuring that your first aid kit is fully topped up. Browse for supplies from the MediBC range of products, all designed to help you deliver potentially life-saving care.

You will also find a wide range of complete first aid kits in the MediBC collection for any environment, from home and the workplace through to travel and trekking.

And know that not only do we specialise in high-quality kits and supplies, but personal customer service and speedy delivery throughout Australia too. So get browsing so we can help you help others whenever the need arises!