Care and Preparation: Why You Need Wilderness Safety Training

Now that summer is here, more people want to hike, bike and go camping. Every summer, there are thousands of bulletins and hundreds of news stories about hikers who get lost in the wilderness, many without first aid training. Minnesota is “The Land of 10,000 Lakes”, but with its natural beauty comes risk. With first aid training, you can avoid becoming a statistic.

Here are several reasons why getting wilderness and first aid training in MN before you go anywhere is a great idea.

1.      Backcountry conditions can change extremely rapidly. Clear skies can give way to torrential downpours; causing hikers to slip and fall.

2.      Wilderness training will teach you how to choose the safest possible route as traveling cross-country is fraught with danger.

3.      Basic first aid training in MN allows the wilderness traveler to be prepared for nearly anything. Basic courses include how to stock a first aid kit, how to recognize and treat wounds and injuries and how to call for help when needed.

4.      First aid training is a requirement for many Girl and Boy Scouts, SAR organizations and the American Canoe Association.

5.      The wilderness has many other dangers including: Bear, snake, coyote or even mosquitos pose significant threats. Wilderness training will teach campers the correct way to set up campsites, store food and how to deal with predators.

In the wilderness, injuries can happen at any time. Emergency medical care and transport is not always readily available. With proper first aid training you will have a much lower risk of sustaining a life threatening injury.

Is Your Babysitter CPR Certified?

Leaving your children with someone that is not a member of your family can be scary.  You never know what is going to happen while you are out of the house so finding a babysitter with experience and whom you trust is extremely important.  There are certain qualities you should look for when hiring your next babysitter, like the ability to handle stressful situations.  Some people simply cannot handle emergency situations when they arise. For that reason, more parents are considering only hiring a babysitter that is CPR certified, because the reality is that accidents do happen and your child’s safety is what matters most.

First aid is not age specific. Every person, regardless of age, runs into emergency situations.  So, whether you have an infant or a preteen, if you are leaving them with a babysitter, you should make sure that sitter can handle basic and emergency first aid tasks.  A sitter that has taken CPR classes MN will have gone through training to handle these stressful and scary situations.

Choking is one of the most common emergency situations that can arise.  Whether your child is running around while trying to eat or simply swallows incorrectly, choking is a serious hazard.  In the event that this should happen, your babysitter needs to take charge and be able to provide the necessary techniques to help the child.  CPR training saves lives so hiring a babysitter that has taken CPR classes MN is extremely important.

Choking is not the only hazard that can arise. During the summer months, it is common for babysitters to take your children swimming.  If this is one of the activities that your babysitter chooses to do, CPR training is a must.  Drowning is a real and all too common danger.  Being around water calls for careful supervision, and in your absence, you should have a responsible sitter who can care for the safety of your children.

You should always make sure that your babysitter’s CPR certification is current.  Every few years they should be taking refresher courses to make sure their knowledge and skills are up to date. Becoming CPR certified is not a difficult process. In fact, there are many places to take CPR classes MN.  Some programs will even come to you, like Twin Cities Safety, where they offer both CPR classes and other safety training courses. 

A CPR certified babysitter is a sitter you can trust with your children’s lives.  So, next time you are looking for a babysitter, make sure a CPR certification is one of your top requirements because CPR saves lives.

AEDs: The Layman's Lifesaver

AEDs are devices that everyone should take the time to understand.  What is an AED? It stands for Automated External Defibrillator.  The word Defibrillator is very intimidating to most people.  The first thing that comes to mind is a scene from a movie or hospital drama, where the doctor is shouting the word “CLEAR” in an intense, life or death situation.  What if you were faced with this situation and had the ability to jumpstart someone’s heart, would you be able to do it? 

Every minute that passes by, lowers a heart attack victim’s chances of survival by 10%.  Automated External Defibrillators have become widely available in recent years.  You can now see them commonly throughout hospitals, gyms, college campuses, amusement parks, and office buildings.  Like the Heimlich maneuver, AEDs are covered under United States Good Samaritan Laws.  If you find yourself in this intense situation, it is a great sense of comfort to know that you won’t be prosecuted for your swift and heroic actions.  Along with CPR Classes Minneapolis area companies like Twin Cities Safety, provide instruction on the proper utilization of the AED. They help you to overcome your fear of what the AED does and stay more focused on using them for their intended purpose. 

When you go out to a public place, make it a point to see where there may be an AED present.  You will be very surprised to see how common they are becoming.  Studies show 11 out of 18 people that are treated with an AED are saved by the device and out of the 11 survivors, 6 of them were treated by someone who has not been trained how to use them.   You never know, it could be crucial for you to be aware of what an AED is.  If you are ever faced with this issue, hopefully our lesson helps you to make a quick decision that could save someone’s life.

Hands on Approach to Saving Lives

Going into cardiac arrest is a frightening experience, but not having the immediate attention needed during that attack is far worse. Most bystanders or loved ones will react correctly by calling 911, but the actions that someone takes until paramedics arrive will help determine the difference between life and death.

In a situation like this, performing CPR can help save a person’s life, but approximately 70% of Americans feel helpless and don’t know how to administer CPR. With the recent changes to the CPR guidelines, however, many people will be able to help save lives by knowing Hands-Only CPR.

Hands-Only CPR was developed so people in everyday settings could initiate CPR to someone who suddenly collapses without having to use mouth-to-mouth breaths. This form of CPR consists of strong chest compressions given to the recipient at a steady rate. It allows oxygenated blood to continue to flow throughout the body and gives the victim a better chance at survival.

The important thing to know about Hands-Only CPR is that no harm can be done by performing it. In the event that a person does suddenly collapse, it’s always recommended to call 911 first and then perform Hands-Only CPR. That’s it.

Though knowing Hands-Only CPR is a great way to help save someone from cardiac arrest, it is still worth considering the benefits of becoming CPR certified. In many situations using standard CPR and administering breaths may prove more effective, or other factors may warrant a different course of action.

When someone suddenly collapses it is important to take action immediately, as all it takes is a pair of helping hands to impact a person’s life.

To learn this life-saving skill, register for one of our courses at: www.twincitiesfireandsafetyservices.com or give us a call at: 651-261-2314.