Copyright (c) 2008 Wilfred Ball

Learning first aid techniques is very important. But it can be hard sometimes to remember them all when it comes time to administer first aid. I want to provide to you some little known tricks to help you remember, not only how to perform first aid, but why you need to do these steps correctly. Once you can remember these tips, you can jump in, take control of the situation and begin performing first aid or CPR.

Make up a Mnemonic

When medical students are in school, they need to learn a lot of information quickly in order to pass their classes. And while many of us believe they are simply smarter than the rest of us, much of the time, they use learning tricks to retain knowledge – not their IQ. These tricks are called mnemonics. For example, when you have a sprained ankle or other body part, you might remember ICE. This stands for ice, compression, elevation. If you can remember the word and letters, its easy to come up with the proper steps to take.

In the case of a wound, you might remember PCC – pressure, clean, cover. You can even make up your own Mnemonics as long as you can make it easy to remember when first aid becomes nessasary.

Practice, Practice, Practice

It sounds dull, but the simplest way to remember first aid procedures is to practice them often. Perhaps you can review your first aid class notes or books once a week to keep the steps fresh in your mind, for example. Sometimes you may even want to hook up with a friend and go over the first aid procedures that you have already learned. Make sure to keep your first aid certification up to date as well.

If you took a first aid class, it might not be a bad idea to go over your quizzes again and again until you have them memorized. There are alot of tests you can take online to aid you training for first aid certification.

Keep a Manual Around

When your mind goes blank on first aid procedures during an actual emergency, you might want to have a first aid book easily available. This book should be simple to flip through to find what you need – tabbed books are best. It might seem a little overwhelming at first. Having a first aid book nearby will help you stay focused and relaxed. Make sure that your book is up to date on the latest advice and that its copyright date is no older than a few years back from the current year.

Apply these little tips and tricks to help you remember the first aid basics. Then, you should have no problem helping others when the need arises to administer first aid.