Beyond Basic First Aid

[apostate]

What are some good choices for first aid training beyond the Red Cross 1-day class? My motivation is emergency preparedness and general interest rather than career/job related.

Details on Houston area classes would be great as well. (I looked into basic EMT at HCC but I won't abide their policies so that's not an option.)

Thanks!

[txfireguy2003]

Talk to some area volunteer fire departments if you can find any nearby. Some of them me be offering a "First Responder" course or know where you can get one. This used to be called ECA for Emergency Care Attendant (I think) but the ECA has pretty well been renamed First Responder. It's not going to get you much beyond first aid and how to take vital signs like BP, heart rate etc, but it's the next level before you go to EMT-B, the EMT-I or EMT-P.

[Keith B]

Talk to some area volunteer fire departments if you can find any nearby. Some of them me be offering a "First Responder" course or know where you can get one. This used to be called ECA for Emergency Care Attendant (I think) but the ECA has pretty well been renamed First Responder. It's not going to get you much beyond first aid and how to take vital signs like BP, heart rate etc, but it's the next level before you go to EMT-B, the EMT-I or EMT-P.

In my day (stone-age ) it was Advanced First Aid from the Red Cross. I used to be an instructor for that, basic and CPR. They discontinued the AFA and it soon was realized there was a real need for an intermediate course between basic First Aid and EMT. First Responder will give you about everything you need as an individual, or even as a fireman or LEO unless you want/need the EMT or Paramedic certification.

[apostate]

Thank you both for the suggestion. I'll poke around and see if I can find a First Responder class locally. That sounds like just the thing.

I did the Red Cross' Advanced First Aid as a teen but didn't see it offered when I took CPR/AED recently. Any idea why they discontinued it?

I wouldn't mind doing EMT coursework/practicals but i don't need the certification and have some concern it might get me into the duty to act danger zone.

Again, thanks for the quick advice.

[Keith B]

Thank you both for the suggestion. I'll poke around and see if I can find a First Responder class locally. That sounds like just the thing.

I did the Red Cross' Advanced First Aid as a teen but didn't see it offered when I took CPR/AED recently. Any idea why they discontinued it?

I wouldn't mind doing EMT coursework/practicals but i don't need the certification and have some concern it might get me into the duty to act danger zone.

Again, thanks for the quick advice.

Not sure how old you are, but there were two different versions of Advanced First Aid courses. The one I used to teach in the late '70's was a 55 hour course. For a while back in the 80's and 90's they had Basic and Advanced first aid. Advanced was an 8 hour course and basic was 4 hours (kinda confusing. LOL)

The 55 hour course was geared to folks who were ambulance drivers, LEO's and Fire Fighters. They did away with that as they thought there was not enough call for it. The next level was EMT. They thought that all the first person on the scene needed was basic knowledge and the EMT's arriving in the ambulance would handle anything further. Once they started getting calls that there really was a need due to delays in getting proper first aid, they went back and implemented a similar course. The Red Cross now has the Emergency Response course (a 50 hour course also.) It is also (I believe) a pre-cursor to the EMT and allows you to start your EMT training while active with an ambulance crew (but don't quote me.)

Here is a link to the Houston Chapter's course http://www.houstonredcross.org/en/cms/?606" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (Scroll to the bottom under Proffesional Rescuer)

Good luck!

[Commander Cody]

Texas has a "Good Samaritan" law. You are not held liable or responsible for your actions for trying to help someone, or not helping. Use your good conscious.

[stevie_d_64]

apostate...

I assume if you are concerned that through any additional training you obtain you feel you'l have some duty to respond or act...Well like it was stated above, you are not obligated to do anything other than what you feel compelled to do at that point...Hard to read what you are feeling about this...

If you need some additional training as far as stabilizing injuries or other slightly advanced techniques in performing those actions, an ECA class might be right up your alley...

If what you really need, and this is what I think you may be looking for, is some sort of list of things you would want to keep in a "kit" in your vehicle or home to give you some additional items to help you accomplish what it is you want to do...

Then I would go to a local fire department and ask their EMT's what they recommend you do to keep on hand what you'll need in that "kit"...If they are not condusive to helping you, then you PM one of us who are experienced with this issue...

I think I know what you are getting at, but give those local VFD's and their EMT's a chance to talk to you directly...I think you'll get what you need from them...I's sure of it...

[apostate]

Thanks for the advice. First Responder/ECA looks like right level of training. Until my recent class, it had been may years since I had any first aid training (other than CPR) and the recent basic first aid was really basic. Around 1980 I took an advanced first aid course (evenings, spread over several weeks) and we got a Red Cross card -- it was definitely more than 8 hours but I'm not sure it was as much as 55. I remember the general principles but I wouldn't be surprised if some things have changed. The AED portion of my CPR class was a good reminder of that. Plus, it's always good to have a refresher. The Emergency Response class is said to meet/exceed the DOT standards for First Responder but I'm surprised they don't even reference it on the First Aid page.

[apostate]

Thanks again for the suggestions. I recently completed the ER class and it was fairly well spot on for me. In addition to CPR, AED, bandaging and splinting, we covered collars and backboards, airways (OPA & NPA) and suctioning, BVM, supplemental oxygen, DOTS, blood pressure, SAMPLE history, etc. In addition to practicing (and testing) skills as individual units, we did group scenario exercises integrating several skills, and requiring communication and teamwork. We had a good group of students and instructors so that helped.