VIEWPOINT: Could You Save A Life?

Having recently completed a First Aid at work course and catching up with the new regulations around it, it was apparent to me how vital it is that everyone should know the minimum basics of saving someone else.

Every day most of us go without having an accident or incident occur during our average day activities but would you know what to do if someone suddenly started choking in front of you? If someone collapsed in front of you or you came across an unconscious, not breathing casualty?

I have been a first aider on and off since I was 16 and fortunately, I have rarely had to use my skills. The fact of me having them provides some reassurance that should something happen, I am able to do something to assist.

Being First Aid certified isn’t for everyone. It’s no good if you’re a bit squeamish, or you can’t stand the sight of blood etc, but being trained in first aid means one day you could save a life!

However, you don’t need to be a first aider in order to save a life.

Yes, taking action to save someone you don’t necessarily know can be a scary prospect. Yes, the adrenaline will be pumping and you’ll probably end up shaking after the event, but you could also hold your head up high and say I did that, I helped that person. That’s what being community minded is all about. We’re here for each other, and that is the great thing about our fantastic village of Overton. We have each other.

While I would encourage anyone to become a first aider, perhaps you’re trained up through your workplace, or maybe part of The British Red Cross or St. Johns Ambulance, you don’t need to be part of these groups.

I was introduced to the CitizenAid app during my recent course.

This app is a fantastic Digital Aid to providing instructions on how to deal with most First Aid requirements in day to day life. It is free to download and I would recommend everyone have it on their phones.

Download from Google Play or the App Store, and find out more about Citizenaid on their website.

When you call 999 in an emergency, the location is based on your home address as that is where the device is registered to so could delay a response. Use 112 instead as this triangulates your position from your mobile signal. Also use the “What Three Words” app if possible as this gives the emergency services an almost precise location within 3 metres of you.

You could be the one to save a life…