No one can predict when a life-threatening emergency will occur. Christian Eriksen’s recent cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 has emphasised the importance of first aid training.
The Danish midfielder collapsed abruptly during Denmark’s opening match against Finland. His teammates and fans watched in distress as medical staff performed life-saving CPR. Eriksen had been unconscious for a few moments, but luckily, the midfielder received treatment immediately before being taken to a nearby hospital.
A football pitch full of professional athletes is the last place you would expect heart complications to occur. But it just goes to show that incidents like this can happen to anyone at any time, hammering home the importance of emergency first aid.
So if you’ve been inspired to learn more about CPR in the wake of the Christian Eriksen incident, here’s what you need to know.
What is CPR?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a medical procedure that is administered to someone who’s experiencing cardiac arrest. When administered correctly, CPR will encourage blood flow when the casualty’s heart cannot function correctly.
When someone is in cardiac arrest, you can perform chest compressions by pressing up and down on the casualty’s chest. Compression is a hands-only CPR method that can increase the casualty’s chances of survival and it can also reduce their recovery time. When you perform chest compressions, you take over the role of the casualty’s heart and lungs by encouraging the body to pump blood and oxygen again.
When someone is experiencing cardiac arrest, you can perform CPR until you (or paramedics) have the opportunity to use a defibrillator to shock the casualty’s heart back into a normal rhythm. You can, of course, learn how to use defibrillators safely at an accredited first aid training course.
Why is Learning CPR so Important?
CPR training is crucial because it saves lives. Every year over 30,000 people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, just like midfielder Eriksen did. If Eriksen did not receive emergency care immediately, he could well have died before he reached the hospital.
Time is of the essence in cases of emergency. However, sadly, few people receive medical assistance in time because many bystanders don’t know how to administer CPR.
According to Resuscitation Council UK, only 31% of adults who have not received first aid training would attempt to administer CPR in a case of emergency. Completing CPR training will give you the confidence to assist a casualty while waiting for the medical professionals to arrive.
Where Can I Learn CPR?
You can learn how to administer CPR at an accredited first aid course. The first aid training course you choose will depend on the level of your skill.
Novice first aiders can complete a One-Day Emergency First Aid at Work or a Three-Day First Aid at Work training course. After completing the one day course, you will learn how to administer CPR correctly, how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED), and much more.
The three-day course is more comprehensive and will provide you with the highest level of first aid training. You will learn how to administer emergency first aid and how to assess, monitor, and support casualties in cases of seizure, severe allergic reactions, choking, to name but a few.
Experienced first aiders can complete a First Aid Annual Refresher course or a Two-Day First Aid at Work Requalification course. The HSE recommends that every qualified first aider complete a refresher course annually to ensure that they are prepared in cases of emergency.
The requalification, on the other hand, must be completed by all first aiders every three years to stay compliant with Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations.
Learn Potentially Life-Saving CPR Today with TL Training
Medical emergencies are unpredictable, but Wirral-based first aid training will teach you essential skills to respond appropriately in cases of emergency. The first step to gaining potentially life-saving skills is choosing the right first aid training provider. The training provider you choose should be accredited, experienced, and knowledgeable about legislative standards.
TL Training provides high-quality first aid training in Wirral, Chester, and at locations right across the UK. We even offer online courses, such as our Mental Health First Aid course. We have over a decade of training experience and have helped businesses in all industries stay HSE compliant with our accredited first aid training.
TL Training’s first aid courses can help you gain the skills you need to respond appropriately during a medical emergency. Get in touch with us today at 0151 343 0588 or email us at [email protected] to start your first aid journey.
