A Day In The Life Of A First Aid Course Attendee

A client attending one of our FAAW Courses wrote about their time on the course, here’s what they said about it…..

A few weeks ago, I had a thought that stopped me in my tracks:

💭 “If someone collapsed right in front of me… would I actually know what to do?”

I didn’t like the answer. So, I signed up for a First Aid Course with Training 4 Logistics.

And wow—what an eye-opener.

From day one, it wasn’t just about theory—we got hands-on with real-life scenarios:

We covered a huge range of life-saving skills, including:

🫀 CPR & AED Training

• Learned how to perform CPR and use an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator).
• Practiced primary surveys (checking consciousness) and capillary refill tests to quickly assess circulation.

🧍 Patient Assessments

• Learned secondary surveys using SAMPLE (Signs, Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last intake, Events leading up).
• Checked pupil reactions for head injury signs.
• Performed full body pain checks while monitoring ABC – Airways, Breathing, Circulation.

🦴 Fractures, Sprains & Slings

• Identified closed, open, and complicated fractures, with symptoms like pain, swelling, and crepitus (bone grinding).
• Treated sprains and strains using RICE (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate).
• Learned how to apply elevated and support slings for immobilization.

💔 Chest Trauma

• Recognized and treated Flail Chest, Collapsed Lung (Haemothorax), Punctured Lung (Pneumothorax), and Tension Pneumothorax.
• Learned key symptoms: chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, and cyanosis (bluish skin).

🧠 Spinal Injuries & Head Trauma

• Covered causes like falls, diving accidents, and crush injuries.
• Practiced Manual Inline Stabilisation (MILS) and log roll techniques (team-based and solo) to move patients safely.
• Learned the Spinal Recovery Position for unresponsive patients while protecting the spine.
• Differentiated Concussion (brain shake) vs Compression (bleed on the brain) with signs like memory loss, headaches, changes in pulse/breathing, and pupil reactions.

🧪 Chemical Burns & Poisoning

• Learned how to safely irrigate chemical burns to minimize tissue damage.
• Studied the 3 I’s and an A – the four ways poisons can enter the body:
  • Injected
  • Inhaled
  • Ingested
  • Absorbed
• Covered how to handle corrosive vs non-corrosive poisons, recognizing symptoms and knowing when to flush, neutralize, or seek immediate emergency care.

By the end of this course, I walked away feeling genuinely confident that if someone around me needed help, I could step in and potentially save a life. 💪

If you’ve ever thought about doing a First Aid course, do it. It’s a skill you hope you’ll never need—but if you do, it could make all the difference. 🩺✨