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First aid training increases the awareness and prevention of your personal safety, as well as the safety of others around you. These skills can be useful in any situation, whether you're eating dinner with family, backpacking or at the workplace. Should an emergency ever occur, you will be able to handle stressful situations more wisely.

These first aid lessons are a guide are getting familiar to first aid or refresher for those who would like to strengthen their skills. It is recommended that you take a local course where you can become officially certified, and be able to present this skill as a job qualification (daycares, camps and hospitals would especially appreciate these skills).

First Aid in Canada
In Canada, first aid certificates are awarded by one of several organizations including the Red Cross, the Lifesaving Society, St. John Ambulance, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and Ski Patrol. Workplace safety regulations vary depending on occupation. Many workplaces opt to have their employees trained in Standard First Aid. Below is a list of available certificates.

Emergency First Aid: an 8-hour course which covers primarily life-threatening emergencies: CPR, bleeding, choking and other life-threatening medical emergencies.

Standard First Aid: a 16-hour course which covers covers the same material in Emergency First Aid, but also includes training for some of the following: breaks; burns; poisons, bites and stings; eye injuries; head and neck injuries; chest injuries; wound care; emergency child birth; and multiple casualty management.

Medical First Responder (BTLS - known by different names among different Canadian organizations): a 40-hour course. It requires Standard First Aid certification as a prerequisite. Candidates are trained in the use of oxygen, Automated external defibrillators, airway management, and the use of additional emergency equipment.

CPR certification in Canada is broken down into several levels. Depending on the level, the person will learn CPR and choking procedures for adults, children, and infants.

CPR H.C.P. (Health Care Professional) also provides training on artificial respiration, the use of bag valve masks, and suction. This level of qualification is usually not offered to the general public.

First Aider Protocol

1) Gain permission if the victim is conscious.
2) Act reasonably within the scope of your training.
3) Continue until someone more qualified takes over, unless you are at risk or exhausted.

A first aider is someone at an emergency scene who suspects injury or illness and prevents further injury while promoting recovery. As a first aider, you take charge of emergency scenes, calm and reassure people, protect victims and their belongings, and take steps to help victims get medical attention. First aiders do not diagnose, nor provide medical help - that is given by a doctor, nurse or paramedic.

Rescue Elements

1. Recognize: identify when someone is hurt, sick or in a dangerous situation. Observe the circumstances of an emergency and monitor the situation.

2. Assess: Search for clues to help you decide what to do. Look around, ask questions, check vital signs, evaluate signs and symptoms, and complete a head-to-toe examination.

3. Act: Action is determined by the assessment. Treating injuries is one response, but action can also refer to removing hazards, directing bystanders, and calling for help. In some cases, "no action" is appropriate. Each emergency presents a unique set of conditions.

Do these three elements when dealing with the immediate scene, primary (life-threatening) emergencies, and secondary emergencies.

Ongoing Victim Care

Communicate - reassure the victim, ask questions, describe what you are doing.
Prevent disease transmission - wear gloves or use barrier devices.
Recruit bystanders.
Treatment - warmth, loosen clothing, monitor vital signs, rest and reassurance, recovery position

When to call for medical assistance

If the victim is unresponsive either at the beginning or in the middle of providing care - call EMS (Emergency Medical System) immediately.
If the victim shows signs of: breathing/circulation problems, heart attack or stroke, spinal injury, severe shock, deteriorating vital signs, a majo rinjury or confusion - phone EMS to transport the victim to hospital by ambulance.
If the victim needs medical attention for head injuries, bleeding, wounds, broken bones, asthma, seizures, heat exhaustion and other secondary emergies - transport to hospital or if you have no other option, phone EMS .
If the incident has been treated as much as possible for the time being, but should really be checked further (e.g. minor burns, fainting, strains), see a doctor. If in doubt, phone EMS. Recommend that the victim seek medical attention and continue to monitor the situation.
If the incident is minor and has been treated adequate for today, it may require medical attention if it does not get better (e.g. insect stings, sunburn, small wounds, pressure squeeze) - monitor the situation and recommend the victim monitor the situation and seek medical attention if it gets worse.

References:
Canadian First Aid Manual by the Lifesaving Society (Canada)
Training image - John Gray Sea Canoe