Guest post by Kristopher Tharris, Red Cross volunteer
Former staff member and current Red Cross volunteer, Kristopher Tharris shares a recent experience, while away on vacation, where scenario-based first aid training helped in real life.
My family recently found ourselves on a Caribbean island where we were having a wonderful vacation. My husband and I have always loved the water and once upon a time were both lifeguards in Canada (let's just call us 'retired'). With two young children, we respect the ocean and are always looking for opportunities to talk over safety in the water, taking the opportunity in this case to explore ocean currents and what they mean when we're thinking about cooling off in the ocean.
Last week, we found ourselves swimming at a nearby beach to which we'd been a number of times during our trip. This beach is known to have a very mild riptide; it's often fun to go to the far west of the beach to get in the water, sort of ride the riptide down to the far east, then climb out. My husband and I have enjoyed floating along these waters a number of times with snorkels and masks to follow lazy sea turtles.
The pull was much stronger this morning (it's amazing how quickly a familiar area can be so different and unfamiliar), so we were just splashing in the waves with the kids. Both were wearing life jackets and even so, we found them bobbing towards the coral as we continued to pull them back. We decided to head back to where we were staying when we noticed an older woman with a pool noodle floating along. She seemed to have been pulled across, but wasn't struggling. Then we noticed she was trying to climb onto the coral bit in the middle of the beach. After getting the kids up on the beach, I walked toward her to help out (the reef can be spotted with nasty little urchins that can be tricky to see, but very easy to feel as they sting).
The woman started grabbing her chest as we approached. Taking care, I went out onto the coral and took her by the arm and she managed to say "asthma". I helped her in and we got her to her bag where we dug out her inhaler and she was able to take it. We found her partner and left as she was able to speak normally after using the inhaler.
The thing that struck me: it was very much like a situation in a lifeguarding course. It never fails to surprise me in situations how the training I have received, while sometimes seems fabricated in the classroom, serves a purpose. At the very least it gives me confidence to know I am able to help – part of which comes from knowing that I am trained to keep myself safe. At the very best it helps me to recognize when help is needed and when I can offer that help.
In short: scenario-based training works!
Visit our web site for more information on training in first aid and water safety.
Former staff member and current Red Cross volunteer, Kristopher Tharris shares a recent experience, while away on vacation, where scenario-based first aid training helped in real life.
My family recently found ourselves on a Caribbean island where we were having a wonderful vacation. My husband and I have always loved the water and once upon a time were both lifeguards in Canada (let's just call us 'retired'). With two young children, we respect the ocean and are always looking for opportunities to talk over safety in the water, taking the opportunity in this case to explore ocean currents and what they mean when we're thinking about cooling off in the ocean.
The pull was much stronger this morning (it's amazing how quickly a familiar area can be so different and unfamiliar), so we were just splashing in the waves with the kids. Both were wearing life jackets and even so, we found them bobbing towards the coral as we continued to pull them back. We decided to head back to where we were staying when we noticed an older woman with a pool noodle floating along. She seemed to have been pulled across, but wasn't struggling. Then we noticed she was trying to climb onto the coral bit in the middle of the beach. After getting the kids up on the beach, I walked toward her to help out (the reef can be spotted with nasty little urchins that can be tricky to see, but very easy to feel as they sting).
The woman started grabbing her chest as we approached. Taking care, I went out onto the coral and took her by the arm and she managed to say "asthma". I helped her in and we got her to her bag where we dug out her inhaler and she was able to take it. We found her partner and left as she was able to speak normally after using the inhaler.
The thing that struck me: it was very much like a situation in a lifeguarding course. It never fails to surprise me in situations how the training I have received, while sometimes seems fabricated in the classroom, serves a purpose. At the very least it gives me confidence to know I am able to help – part of which comes from knowing that I am trained to keep myself safe. At the very best it helps me to recognize when help is needed and when I can offer that help.
In short: scenario-based training works!
Visit our web site for more information on training in first aid and water safety.
