When was the last time you did something for someone else? I mean, where you had nothing to gain other than the satisfaction of knowing what you’ve done was completely selfless? It’s a really good feeling and one you get from completing a St John Ambulance Victoria First Aid course.
First Aid is something I always wanted to do, but often came up with the excuse of not having enough time. I was out of excuses when I was asked if I’d like to complete the course online. Well done St John Ambulance Vic! As one of the many Australian organisations to change their way of doing things because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this was the kick up the backside I needed.
I knew things were getting real when the training equipment pack was sent to me. A mini inflatable CPR learning manikin, defibrillator pad set, CPR practice DVD, basic life support book, bandages, a training Epipen, a placebo inhaler and spacer – all the gear I needed to demonstrate my new learning.
I was required to complete some online pre-learning prior to my class, which took me about two and a half hours and is recommended you do this no later than the day before. There’s a lot of information to take in and online questions to complete via a link you’re sent once you enrol.
The video demonstrations were clear and comprehensive and afterwards I felt confident that I’d be able to complete the training successfully.
I joined my scheduled First Aid class via Zoom using my laptop (webcam, microphone and speakers are required) and set up where I could easily position the webcam so the trainer could easily see me performing some of the assessments on the ground.
I used my phone as the secondary device, which is needed to access additional websites for theory questions and to simulate a defibrillator.
Allowing four uninterrupted hours for the class, it felt like it went very quickly! The instructor was friendly and helped review the pre-learning and allowed questions before assessing your skills.
St John Ambulance Victoria First Aid training kit
St John Ambulance Victoria’s comprehensive First Aid course covers a range of topics to enable participants to confidently manage emergency situations and provide a first aid response to a casualty. It covers the most common first aid injuries and illnesses.
The course topics include the DRSABCD action plan and responding to emergency situations, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), burns, asthma, anaphylaxis, sprains and strains.
As a mother, I think knowing what do do in an emergency is imperative, with children susceptible to all sorts of potential hazards. But it’s also vitally important to be prepared and in a position to help save someone’s life. We’re all capable of learning First Aid and really have no excuse – especially with the convenience of an online course – not to do something about it.
- I was gifted a virtual St John Ambulance Victoria First Aid training course for the purposes of a review.
