09/03/2026
Should I put on a pressure bandage or start CPR if someone is in cardiac arrest from a snake bite?
If someone is in cadiac arrest but has a suspected spinal injury- Should I do chest compressions softer so I don't cause further damage to their spine?
If we want our staff to use Methoxyflurane (The Green Whistle), should we also give them Naloxone training in case they overdose?
While these may all seem like fair questions from a first aid student, the reality is, they were asked by "First Aid Trainers" at recent conferences.
Seriously, if you are asking these questions- YOU SHOULD NOT BE TEACHING FIRST AID.
Let's talk about First Aid Trainers and who Is Teaching Your First Aid Course?
It seems like *everyone* is teaching first aid these days. But have you ever stopped to ask what qualifications a first aid trainer actually has?
You might assume the person standing at the front of the classroom is an expert in emergency care like a Paramedic, A nurse — at least someone with real-world experience responding to medical emergencies . Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Don't get us wrong, there a plenty of non-Healthcare Professionals who are excellent first aid trainers, but they have experience to draw upon.
In Australia, the minimum requirements to teach first aid are surprisingly basic. A trainer generally only needs:
• A Certificate IV in Training & Assessment (TAE)
• The first aid qualification they are delivering (such as Provide First Aid)
While there is supposed to be an “industry experience” requirement, in reality this can be interpreted very loosely. In many cases, trainers may have little to no real-world experience managing emergencies .
This raises an important question:
How can someone effectively teach life-saving skills they’ve never had to use in a real emergency?
How can you teach CPR, if you've never had to do it for real?
How can you teach about caring for someone who is badly injured if you've never had to do it for real?
How can you teach about the reality of managing someone who seriously ill if you have never had to do it for real?
First aid training should be more than just ticking a compliance box . It should be delivered by people who understand the pressure, decision-making, and realities of emergency situations.
When choosing a first aid provider, it’s worth asking:
• What real-world experience do the trainers have?
• Have they actually responded to emergencies?
• Do they bring practical insight beyond the textbook and the Powerpoint?
Because when an emergency happens, the quality of the training you received can make all the difference.
Certificates don't save lives.
Category 5 Emergency Care-
