Learn new DRK courses first aid shorter

Shorter DRK courses: learn first aid faster

03/29/2015

The majority of Germans do not know what to do in a medical emergency. This knowledge is taught, among other things, in first aid courses. The German Red Cross (DRK) has now announced to shorten such courses, so that they are visited more again.

Shorter courses announced
As fewer and fewer people in Germany know what to do in an emergency, first-aid courses will be shorter and more practical from April onwards. The news agency dpa has pointed this out to the German Red Cross (DRK) in Schwerin. As Thomas Powasserat from the DRK Mecklenburg-Vorpommern said, the courses will in the future have only nine lessons instead of the previous 16, each lasting 45 minutes. It was reported that the theory is deleted.

The „five W“ do not necessarily have to be mastered
Among other things, this includes the most important information when reporting an emergency. „The famous „five W“ you do not have to master it“, said Powasserat. Meant are the questions: „Where is the emergency / accident?“, „What happened?“, „How many injured / affected people are to be cared for?“, „Which injuries or signs of disease do those affected have?“ such as „Always wait for queries from the Rescue Coordination Center!“ The dispatcher in the rescue center leads the caller anyway through the conversation and asks what he needs to know.

More practice lessons
For the reduced theory, however, there are more practical lessons. Thus, emergency situations should be rehearsed in small groups. According to a survey, two-thirds of Germans do not know what to do if necessary, until professional rescuers come. As various studies in recent years have shown, many people are reluctant to perform resuscitation in an emergency, as they are afraid they could aggravate the patient's health by taking wrongful action. However, a quick help could significantly increase the survival rate in many cases.

Experts recommend refresher courses
Last year alone in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 32,000 people completed a first aid course through the German Red Cross. Experts advise again and again to repeat this. To take a driver's license, you must attend a first-aid course, but regular refresher courses are not required. With most studies showing a slowdown in knowledge over time, it is recommended that knowledge be refreshed from time to time. (Ad)