In almost every emergency situation you are in, whether it is a car wreck, a scraped knee on the playground, an active shooter, or a natural or man-made disaster, YOU are most likely going to be the first responder. Help from emergency responders may take a while to arrive. Having some background in basic first aid training can be an invaluable tool to help save lives.
What First Aid Class You Should Take
- Take a basic First Aid Course – whether through your local emergency responder classes, the Y, the Ameican Red Cross, or another venue.
- Take a CPR class – CPR training isn’t always available through first aid courses, or you can choose to take a separate class to be certified. These are also offered through many civil defense groups, city or county emergency responder groups, local recreation centers, and the American Red Cross.
- More than the Basics First Aid Classes – if you really want to learn, take a course in more than just basic first aid. One such class is offered by The Patriot Nurse, where you get an intensive course on more than just how to do a tourniquet or pressure bandage a wound.
- Stock up your Medical Library – get first aid books that you can study and keep as a reference.
- Learn techniques on YouTube – make sure you’re dealing with someone who is medically sound and learns basic techniques, even if you’re so remote you can’t take a first aid class. While these won’t substitute for real medical training, they can make you familiar with basic techniques (though I’m not sure I’d want to watch a video on youtube to learn how to remove an appendix from some dude doing it in his backyard).
And just so that you know that I do heed my own advice — my son and I took a first aid class and you can read about it here. YOU are a first responder. Make it count!
Katy Willis is a writer, lifelong homesteader, and master herbalist, master gardener, and canine nutritionist. Katy is a preparedness expert and modern homesteader practicing everyday preparedness, sustainability, and a holistic lifestyle.
She knows how important it is to be prepared for whatever life throws at you, because you just never know what's coming. And preparedness helps you give your family the best chance to thrive in any situation.
Katy is passionate about living naturally, growing food, keeping livestock, foraging, and making and using herbal remedies. Katy is an experienced herbalist and a member of the CMA (Complementary Medical Association).
Her preparedness skills go beyond just being "ready", she's ready to survive the initial disaster, and thrive afterward, too. She grows 100% organic food on roughly 15 acres and raises goats, chickens, and ducks. She also lovingly tends her orchard, where she grows many different fruit trees. And, because she likes to know exactly what she's feeding her family, she's a seasoned from-scratch cook and gluten-free baker.
Katy teaches foraging and environmental education classes, too, including self-sufficient living, modern homesteading, seed saving, and organic vegetable gardening.
Katy helps others learn forgotten skills, including basic survival skills and self-reliance.
She's been published on sites such as MSN, Angi, Home Advisor, Family Handyman, Wealth of Geeks, Readers Digest, and more.