The Benefits of Investing in a First Aid Qualification

Jan 2, 2012
Lori Woodward

First Aid Certificate and Kit - Lori Woodward (author of article)

A first aid qualification may help someone save a life, improve employment opportunities, or help gain a course entry or promotion within the workplace.

A first aid certificate is a small investment that has large personal benefits to those who invest time and money into attaining it. These benefits extend to both personal and family health, and also to the potential to reward the individual through financial incentives.

Emergency preparedness through having a first aid certificate may well save a person’s life through the knowledge of CPR after a drowning or prevent further injury to a person through knowing whether or not to move a person who has sustained a fall.

A first aid qualification looks attractive to potential employers on a work resume, and for those already in the workplace, employers may pay additional allowances for those willing to perform the role of being a first aid officer. For many careers a first aid is a prerequisite to employment or to being enrolled in a course such as nursing.

Emergency Preparedness

Being well prepared for emergencies at home, in the workplace and during leisure activities is good common sense, and also worth considering as a necessity in day to day life. Many homes have a first aid kit, but those within the home may not be first aid qualified.

Statistics for unintentional injuries from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that these occur around 30 percent of the time during leisure activities, a large percentage of time within the home for females, and for males a lot of time during work activities.

In a study of road trauma accidents in Australia, around 57% of those that occurred had a bystander. It was determined that 7% of fatalities resulting from road trauma accidents could be saved through basic life support given at the scene of the accident. The study determined that holding a qualification would increase the likelihood that a bystander would provide basic life support (removal of airway obstruction/CPR etc.) whilst waiting for assistance from ambulance services.

Holding a first aid certificate increases a person’s confidence in providing emergency assistance after an unintentional injury has been sustained, and helps increase the survival/recovery rate of those injured.

Assistance in gaining a job

For those looking to work in the healthcare or human services related industries – a base level qualification is a first aid certificate. Many courses also require people to hold a first aid certificate as part of the course requisites.

These courses include nursing degrees, medical degrees, disability support worker courses and childcare courses.

Other employers in other industries may look favourably upon those who took the time and finances to invest in a first aid certificate, as it shows initiative and may help be a decider between one individual over another. Given the competitiveness of the modern job market, a first his or herself to potential employers.

Opportunities on the job

If a person is already currently employed, and is looking to advance within the workplace, to consider gaining a first aid certificate would possibly offer an advantage.

A first aid officer in a workplace is well regarded, and depending on statutory work awards or conditions, may offer a payment bonus. It may just simply depend on a person making an enquiry.