First aid is the temporary and immediate care of a person who is injured or ill.  The purpose of first aid is to: save lives, prevent further injury, relieve pain, and control shock until medical aid can be obtained.  In this course, the students will also learn about the emotional stress associated with emergencies, the symptoms associated with stress, and procedures to address stress when identified. Additionally, this training deals specifically with the knowledge and skills needed to apply and operate an automated external defibrillator (AED) on a patient in cardiopulmonary arrest. 

NOTE: The instructor will provide First Aid/CPR cards that are effective for two years from the date of issue to those participants who successfully complete the course.
 
 This course is an American Heart Association and International Liaison Commission on Resuscitation-approved course for adult learners. The course covers approved material on emergency medicine for lay responders, from how to enter an emergency safely, legal requirements, and of course CPR, AED use, and First Aid. 

This course references the use of Narcan and the rise of transdermal patches used to administer fentanyl and the problems these patches cause for lay responders. (The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provides a wealth of information on this subject.) Instructors may note the decisions management will need to make concerning these patches (reporting patch discovery, handling, and disposal), to direct lay responders about handling them. 

The course is taught with hands-on floor exercises on how to move the injured and practice sessions on Compression only CPR, Standard CPR, and High-Performance CPR.

Performance Objectives: Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

• Know how to approach an emergency safely
• Know the laws that apply to lay, responders
• Know CPR procedures
• Know the principles of First Aid

Competencies Covered: How to handle emergencies until medical help arrives, legal requirements, CPR procedures, First Aid Procedures, assessments of the injured, AED use, bleeding control, and legal principles for lay responders

Intended Audience: Employees who are required to have a Basic First Aid card as stated in WAC 296-800-150.