By Steven John Cumper, B.App.Sc (Osteo.) M.Ost
As a firefighter, you are responsible for protecting the members of your community. You go into the field knowing that anything could happen. In order to perform at your best, you have to be prepared in every way.
In the event of injuries, you have to know how to react quickly and effectively. How can you make sure that you are prepared for the worst? Staying up to date on the latest first aid techniques can help you get ready to confront any challenge that presents itself on the job.
Understanding the Unique Challenges Faced by Firefighters
All first responders have difficult jobs, but firefighters in particular have a unique set of challenges that don’t apply to others in adjacent careers. Some aspects of your job that you consider a normal part of the day would shock people that aren’t familiar with what you do.
Physical Demands
Not many careers require the level of physical fitness that firefighting does. You’re expected to be fit enough to run, carry objects or people, handle heavy equipment, and do it all with unmatched stamina.
As a result, you spend a great deal of time in the gym or training with your fellow firefighters, putting your body through rigorous workouts and training exercises. These demands can be difficult to keep up with.
Emotional Impacts
Firefighters often bear witness to horrible, life-changing events. Even with your most heroic efforts, sometimes you will experience things that may be hard to cope with emotionally. Finding healthy ways to process trauma and stress will help you take care of your mental health.
You may find that regularly seeing a therapist or joining a support group could help you work through some of the more painful parts of your career. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need a little extra support.
Advanced Tools and Equipment in Firefighter First Aid
Once you’re trained, you’ll be able to use equipment that will assist you in providing top notch first aid. There are many new and innovative tools available for first aid kits, and knowing what they are and how to use them will make a difference in how you treat injuries.
Equipment like defibrillators and epinephrine auto injectors require specialized training, and you’ll want to know how and when to use those as well as any other tools inside your first aid kit.
Advancements are being made that will make a big difference in the way you administer first aid, including the recent invention of a blood clotting gel solution called Vetigel that stops bleeding instantly.
Anatomy of a Comprehensive First Aid Kit
Firefighters need comprehensive first aid kits that can take care of a wide range of injuries. These kits can be premade and purchased as a set or they can be built from scratch, depending on your preference.
A great first aid kit for a firefighter will include tools to assist in an emergency, such as:
- Bandages
- Gauze and tape
- Scissors and tweezers
- Gloves
- Alcohol wipes
- Pain relievers
- Burn and antibiotic ointment
- Saline
Being well prepared will make all the difference. When you can quickly and effectively treat injuries of all kinds right away, you’ll prevent those injuries from becoming larger problems down the road.
Empowering Firefighters with Lifesaving Skills
First aid training and education is empowering. As a firefighter with comprehensive first aid training, you can feel confident in your skills, knowing that you have the ability to save lives and handle emergencies that come your way.
You are a vital part of keeping your community safe. Stay up to date on your training to make sure you have the tools you need to do what you do best.
Steven John Cumper, B.App.Sc. (Osteo.), M.Ost., is a businessman with a strong background in biomedical science and osteopathic medicine. He founded Medshop while studying at RMIT University in Australia, expanding its reach to markets in Papua New Guinea, Singapore, and Malaysia. In September 2021, the Bunzl Group acquired a majority stake in Medshop, but Cumper remains involved as the Managing Director (Medshop Group). His journey from Zimbabwe to the UK and Australia reflects his dedication to academia and entrepreneurship, combining diverse knowledge and experience.
