subject: What to Do in Case of a Mishap [print this page] If a person is present at the place of mishap and notices a wounded person, the foremost thing the person should do is to administer first aid to the wounded person. First Aid as the name suggests is the first and the immediate medical care provided to a person in case of a mishap by a non-expert person who has some basic knowledge about how to provide medical care. The basic aim of the aid provided before any doctor arrives is to save the life of the patient by providing him with medical care that can prevent further harm. Applying pressure to stop the bleeding, making the patient lay down straight, applying plaster to small wounds can be cited as common examples that one usually notices in the aid providing process.
Since the initial aid is provided in the absence of the doctor a great risk is involved as the condition of the patient can further get worsened. In such a situation it is always advisable that a person with requisite knowledge of the medical care should only administer the medical aid. Since not much expertise is required one can do some basic courses that will enable him/her to help the wounded persons efficiently. One more thing that is obviously done is to call the ambulance or a doctor depending on the condition.
How to equip oneself with requisite medical knowledge
A person in order to equip himself with the required medical knowledge should undergo training at the registered training organizations. After one completes the training at one of the registered training organizations one is provided with a certificate.
In Australia Level-1, Level-2, Level-3 certifications are provided on the basis of duration and content of the training course. Level-1 is a basic course and covers the ways of primary medical care administration. It's a one day course and deals with the procedures that one should undertake in order to prevent life threatening emergencies. Level-2 First Aid is the complete course that one can undertake in order to provide medical care. It's a course that covers Level-1 and specialized training to handle the cases of poisoning, electric shocks etc. Level-2 First aid course is not a professional course and one cannot substitute a doctor. Since it covers advanced training as compared to Level-1 it is also called as Senior First Aid.
What as an individual one can contribute?
Firstly one should keep the contact numbers of some of the doctors that can be called in case of an emergency. Secondly one should at least do a Level-2 First Aid course so that one is able to administer medical help in case of a mishap. Thirdly one should ensure that only a registered person administers the first medical help until and unless he is able to find nobody who is registered. Lastly never let the crowd assemble around the patient so that the patient is able to breathe freely.
