Why Should You Learn First Aid?

Read this definition from Oxford Languages: “First aid: help given to a sick or injured person until full medical treatment is available.”

Answer this question: Why should you learn First Aid?

Your answer may have been something along the lines of “I can save someone,” or “I can help them stay alive until they get medical help.” And your answer is very true.

Take the story of 13-year-old hockey player Ali Khalegi, published by CBC News: Toronto in 2014. Ali Khaleghi when participating in a November 14th hockey game at Herbert H. Carnegie Centennial Centre in North York. After playing on the ice for a few minutes, his heart suddenly stopped. With the timely help of arena operator Doug Jamieson and an off-duty nurse and firefighter, the young hockey player was delivered an AED shock.

His sister, Zhenya Selezen, was really grateful for these individuals. "We were just really lucky that, you know, the right people and the equipment was on site to help him."

Ali Khalegi was truly very lucky to have these amazing people. Their hard work and first aid skills helped to bring the young athlete back to life. This situation demonstrates how even just a quick and efficient reaction to such medical emergencies can keep a young tween’s heart alive and beating.

But, First Aid doesn’t just save lives. It also saves families and societies. Without the prompt attention he received, Ali Khalegi may not have been able to live as he has now. Every person is important in a family and an interconnected society. The absence of just one person can leave behind a huge hole. First aid prevents the formation of these holes; it keeps society’s heart beating--alive and healthy.

Outside of sustaining human relationships, properly delivered First Aid has many future health benefits. According to US CPR Online, sometimes a wounded person does not need further medical attention after receiving First Aid. This is relevant for minor injuries, like sprains. If a person’s sprain is not treated in time, they may experience chronic pain or long-term joint disability in the future.

Emergency First Response, a First Aid training organization, says that learning and becoming familiar with First Aid helps you gain confidence in the ability to help people in stressful medical situations. Rather than being that panicking passerby on the sideline, you can be the cool headed hero that swoops in to save the day.

Now, let me ask you this same question once again: Why should you learn First Aid?

Hopefully, this time, you have a different answer. If you don’t, that’s okay. We’re not asking you to immediately go and get a First Aid certification. We just hope you’ll start to look into First Aid and what exactly it entails. This can be in any form, from just reading our site's blogs, checking out the American Red Cross website, to even just watching a few YouTube Videos.

Whatever way possible, we encourage you all to look into First Aid. You don’t have to be a doctor, or a teacher, or even an adult. You don’t have to learn everything in a month, or even a year. Take it slow. Learn about First Aid with us!

SOURCES CITED:

“AED Defibrillator Helps Save Teen Hockey Player’s Life.” CBC News, CBC/Radio Canada, 17 Nov. 2014, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/aed-defibrillator-helps-save-teen-hockey-player-s-life-1.2837497.

Oxford Languages. “Oxford Languages.” Oxford Languages, Oxford University Press, 2023, languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/.

Why Is First Aid Important? | First Aid Training Gold Coast. 17 May 2023, firstaidae.com.au/about-first-aid-ae/why-is-first-aid-important/#:~:text=Without%20proper%20First%20Aid%2C%20a.

“Importance of First Aid in Our Daily Life.” Mycpr-New.webflow.io, www.uscpronline.com/blog/importance-of-first-aid-in-our-daily-life.

Emergency First Response. “5 Reasons Why Basic First Aid Knowledge Is Essential.” Emergency First Response, 18 July 2017, www.emergencyfirstresponse.com/5-reasons-why-basic-first-aid-knowledge-is-essential/.

Written by: Amrutha Kothakota