Covers how to identify life-threatening conditions and carry out emergency procedures at the scene of an accident. Part of the course work also allows students the option to meet the requirements for the American Red Cross Emergency Response certificate and the Basic Life Support certificate. NOTE: Certificates are only issued to students whose performance meets the required criteria.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
The goal of Advanced First Aid is to provide the participant with the knowledge and skills necessary to work as a first responder in an emergency to help sustain life, reduce pain and minimize the consequences of injury or sudden illness until more advanced medical help can arrive.
- Introduction
Identify ways in which diseases are transmitted and describe body substance isolation techniques to prevent disease transmission.
- The First Responder
Demonstrate guidelines to follow to ensure the personal safety and the safety of others at an emergency scene.
- The Well-Being of the First Responder (Stress Management)
Describe actions a first responder could take to reduce or alleviate stress including such skills as regular exercise, stress management and healthy eating.
- Human Body Systems
Explain what happens in the body if one or more body systems fail to function.
- Assessment
Explain and demonstrate how to assess a victim’s condition. Explain the importance of blood pressure in the healthy, chronically ill and acutely ill individual. Describe lifestyle changes to help lower hypertension and borderline hypertension.
- Medical and Behavioral Emergencies
Evaluate the signs, symptoms and prevention of a diabetic emergency and choose appropriate treatment.
- Breathing Emergencies
Recognize breathing emergencies, such as airway obstruction, and demonstrate how to provide proper care for them.
- Breathing Devices
Identify breathing devices and analyze situations to use them.
- Cardiac Emergencies – Recognition and Prevention
Recognize the signs and symptoms of a possible heart attack, and describe how to care for someone who is experiencing persistent chest pain and/or other signs and symptoms of heart attack. Evaluate the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and injury and describe how to control them.
- Practical Testing on CPR
Recognize the signs of cardiac arrest and demonstrate how to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
- Bleeding and Shock
Recognize life-threatening bleeding and demonstrate how to control it. Recognize the signs and symptoms of shock (hypoperfusion), and describe how to minimize its effects.
- Specific Injuries
Evaluate the signs and symptoms of medical and behavioral emergencies, including altered mental status, seizures, poisoning, heat and cold emergencies, and stroke and describe both general and specific care for medical and behavioral emergencies.
- Muscle and Bone Injuries
Recognize the signs and symptoms of various soft tissue and musculoskeletal injuries and demonstrate how to care for them.
- Infants and Children
Describe common types of medical and trauma emergencies in infants and children and the necessary care.
- Practical Skills Testing on Splinting and Bandaging
Demonstrate skills in splinting and bandaging.
Assessment and Requirements
Text is chosen at the discretion of the instructor and as required by the American Red Cross. All instructors for this class must use the same textbook.
Outcomes
Credit for Prior College-Level Learning
Valid CPR for the Professional (or equivalent) certification and valid Emergency Response certification (equivalent or above, e.g. EMT certified)