By JEFFARAH GIBSON
Tribune Feature Writer
jgibson@tribunemedia.net
IMAGINE enjoying a perfect day by the pool and suddenly you see someone go under and come back up gasping for air. Or what if you are home and a loved one goes into cardiac arrest, would you know exactly what to do and how to help?
Scenarios like these would leave many people paralysed with shock and unable to respond in way that could potentially save a another person's life.
"But it is in these instances that basic first aid knowledge can make a huge difference as accidents can happen any time and anywhere," said Exanna Dormeus, a representative of the Bahamas Red Cross.
First aid is the immediate assistance given to any person suffering a sudden illness or injury, with care provided to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, and or promote recovery.
The Bahamas Red Cross is encouraging everyone to get some sort of first aid training they can use to save someone's life in case of an emergency.
The organisation is hosting its first public first aid class on October 21 from 8.30am to 4pm at the Red Cross on John F Kennedy Drive. An open public class will be conducted every third Saturday of each month. Training is provided to corporate groups upon request at a special rate depending on the amount of persons being trained.
During the class, participants will be taught how to identity an emergency, how to respond in an emergency, the proper precautions to take against disease transmission. They will also be shown CPR procedures and the correct recovery position.
Additionally, participants will be taught how to respond to choking, first aid care for heart attacks and chest pain, first aid care for bleeding and wound care, all about the automated external defibrillator (AED) and its usage.
Ms Dormeus said this information is vital for people to know and be aware of as it could mean the difference between life and death.
"Accidents and incidents can happen any time and anywhere. It is important for everyone to be armed with life-saving skills," she told Tribune Health.
For each topic, participants will be engaged in staged scenarios to facilitate a clearer understanding. Some scenarios can include, but will not be limited, to first aid care for burns, responding to a serious injury, responding to a victim with sudden illness, an allergic reaction, or poisoning, and treatment for cold and heat emergencies.
"It is important to have the knowledge of how to assist someone in need of basic medical help. Preparing for an emergency situation by taking a first aid course can be critical to saving a loved one as the first few minutes are the most crucial in any emergency situation," said Ms Dormeus.
"We encourage everyone to download our app available in the Google Play store or the iTunes store. Just search Bahamas Red Cross. The app, which is free, is under the name of Bahamas FA," she said.
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