A few years ago now, whilst I was a foster carer, I completed an Emergency First Aid course which I found very informative, interesting and very helpful. I believe a course like this is something everybody should do and possibly even be taught in schools. Knowing what to do if some collapses in the street and how to put someone in the recovery position properly can quite literally be lifesaving. So when I received Burns, Falls and Emergency Calls written by Emma Hammett RGN from www.firstaidforlife.org.uk I couldn’t wait to start reading it and see how it compared to the course I had taken.
Burns, Falls and Emergency Calls is described as “The ultimate guide to the prevention and treatment of childhood accidents” and that is exactly what it is, a very valuable resource book for parents, caregivers and anyone else that looks after or comes in to contact with children, from birth to adulthood. Emma Hammett has years of experience as a nurse and as a first aid trainer and it clearly comes across in the book.
The book is in five sections and while I read it from cover to cover (which I would recommend), you can dip in and out to sections that you may find relevant to you or your situation. You don’t have to have completed a first aid course to understand this book, it is written in a clear and concise manner without overcomplicated medical terms and jargon (and where medical terms are used they are clearly explained).
The five sections of the book are:
Part 1: Prioritising injuries and child safety
Part 2: Life-threatening emergencies
Part 3: Treatment for common injuries and illnesses
Part 4: Useful information
Part 5: Resources
This book covers everything from bruises to seizures, broken bones, poisoning to CPR and the recovery position (for adults and babies) and is jam-packed with very helpful tips on how to prevent accidents and what to do if an accident does happen.
This is a book that every household, school and child care facility should have on hand, it is an excellent resource and could help you lessen the impact of accident or even possibly help save a life. Knowing how to react and what to do in an emergency can make a very big difference and those first actions can drastically change an outcome.
I mentioned at the start that I wanted to see how it compared to the first aid course I had taken and it was spot on but went a bit further expanding the knowledge of things I had already learned and taught me some things that we didn’t cover on the course I had taken.
An invaluable resource book to help prevent, and if the need should every arise, treat childhood accidents before the ambulance arrives. Children WILL get into accidents, would you know what to do in an emergency?
For more information on emergency first aid and first aid courses visit www.firstaidforlife.org.uk and www.onlinefirstaid.com.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £12.99 (Paperback) / £4.99 (Kindle Edition)
Available to buy from Amazon here.