Do you feel prepared to handle an emergency situation? Gaining real world experience in emergency first aid is a crucial skill that you should possess. It’s one of the most commonly used skills we teach. Here we’ll cover the top 5 reasons why you need to take an Emergency First Aid Class.

1. You’ll learn everything you need to respond to an emergency

2. You’ll get hands on training with equipment

3. Emergency first aid applies everywhere you go

4. ​​You could be the difference between life or death

5. It’s perfect for all types of students

1. You’ll learn everything you need to respond to an emergency

According to a recent poll from the American College of Emergency Physicians:

• 76% of adults in the United States feel prepared to communicate with 911 in an emergency.

• Only 55% are prepared to provide hands-only CPR.

• Less than half (46%) feel prepared to apply a tourniquet to severe bleeding or to move a victim to safety (47%).

• Only 29% feel prepared to use an AED.

With a well taught emergency first aid class, you’ll learn everything you need to handle an emergency situation from start to finish and be more prepared than over half of Americans. In your emergency first aid course you’ll learn the following:

Patient Assessment

Understanding the situation is a major pillar of knowing how to respond. This includes assessing your surroundings, identifying the injury or emergency your patient is experiencing, and asking witnesses for additional context and clues to help determine what steps need to be taken.

Traumatic Emergencies

These types of emergencies often include large forces against the body such as car accidents, serious falls, gunshot wounds, and severe bleeding. Understanding how to prevent bleed out by properly applying a tourniquet, how to pack a gunshot wound, and how to treat a patient in shock are fundamentals that will help you make a difference in your patient's life or death situation.

Medical Emergencies

Medical emergencies differ from traumatic emergencies in that they involve a medical condition or reaction. These emergencies can be just as life-threatening as a traumatic emergency and typically include heart attacks, severe allergic reactions, strokes, heat strokes, fainting, and choking. Being able to respond quickly and correctly in these situations is a core skill that will be useful for the rest of your life.

Building A First-Aid Kit

During your emergency first aid course, you’ll have the opportunity to learn what items should be included in your first aid kit. Understanding the importance of each component in your first aid kit will play a key role in assembling or purchasing a personal kit such as an IFAK or a larger first aid kit to be stored in your vehicle.

2. You’ll get hands on training with equipment

During your course, you’ll do more than simply sit in a classroom learning about these topics. Your USCCA instructor will work you through a dozen real-world scenarios using simulated patients and the actual products (or field expedients) that you’ll need to understand if you hope to save a life.

You’ll be able to practice techniques, get familiar with gear, and ask questions to certified instructors during your course. This type of hands on experience is essential if you want to truly internalize the principles of emergency first aid and be able to act in a life threatening situation.

3. Emergency first aid applies everywhere you go

No matter where you are or what you do for a living, understanding how to help in a life threatening emergency is a skill that will always be useful.

Keep Your Family Safe

You tend to spend the most time around the people you care about. If a medical or traumatic emergency were to happen to someone you care about, chances are high that you would be nearby. While paramedics are on their way, you can take steps to prevent the injury or emergency from getting worse. ​​If you’re ready to become your family’s first responder in an emergency situation this training cannot be missed.

Emergency First Aid In The Workplace

When you get trained in emergency first aid response, the knowledge follows you everywhere you go. Whether you work in real estate, legal systems, the service industry, construction, or retail, you’ll be prepared if a coworker or customer has a medical or traumatic emergency.

4. You could be the difference between life or death

Did you know over 60,000 deaths per year in the United States are preventable? These deaths are caused by hemorrhages and blood loss which could have been stopped had bleeding been mitigated through immediate first aid treatment. By learning and carrying the proper first aid equipment, you can be the deciding factor between life and death for a potential victim.

5. Perfect for all types of students

Learning first aid is a great skill to acquire regardless of your current level of training. Whether you’ve never taken a self defense class or you’re a seasoned pro, an emergency first aid class is a must.

Learning emergency first aid doesn’t require any self defense knowledge, a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card, or any prior first aid skills. It’s a great class to take to become a prepared American citizen and ensure the safety of those around you.

Our recommended course

Here at Lightning Defense Academy, we teach the USCCA Emergency First Aid Fundamentals course. This course is an in depth training on how to respond quickly and accurately to emergency situations. Every second counts and we’re here to equip you to take meaningful action towards preserving a potential victim's life. If you’re in the Northern IL or Southern WI area, we highly suggest registering for an upcoming first aid class.

Have questions about taking an emergency first aid course?

Reach out to our certified instructors and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.