If you have ever wondered what to do when someone is having a seizure or how to provide first aid for a seizure, you are not alone. Epilepsy, a tendency to have seizures that start in the brain, is relatively common worldwide. As common as this condition is, though, there is still little that can be done for someone who is having an attack. Even so, there are a few important procedures for seizure first aid that everyone should know.

1. Understand the different types of seizures.
There are different types of seizures that a person can have, which can also affect the type of first aid treatment they require. Focal seizures affect only part of the brain and can manifest as unusual behavior, such as an odd smell or taste, twitching, sudden emotional swings, confusion, wandering, or unusual movements. Generalized seizures are often more complex and violent as they affect both sides of the brain and occur without warning. These generally include attacks such as sudden stiff or limp muscles that cause the victim to fall, muscle jerks, or full convulsions.

2. Know what type of seizure first aid to provide.
It can be unnerving and even scary to witness someone having a seizure, which is why it is always important for you to remain calm while providing assistance. The first step in first aid for a seizure is to always make sure that victims do not injure themselves. For example, if someone is having a convulsive seizure, move away any furniture or surrounding objects and place a towel underneath their head (or gently hold their head) to prevent it from hitting the ground. For more mild seizures, minimize potential harm as much as possible without fully restraining the victim.

3. Realize that reassurance is key.
Seizures are an upsetting event for both the victim and potential onlookers. Always remember to give the victim emotional support as well as the physical support of seizure first aid. Reassure them that everything is fine, and do your best to minimize any embarrassment that they might feel in the case of a public attack.

First aid for a seizure is not a complicated procedure, however it does require a certain level of knowledge and understanding of the victim’s physical and emotional condition. To learn more about seizure first aid or other first aid procedures, visit SimpleCPR to take your first aid class today!

Do you need to be first aid certified for your job or for your own personal safety? If so, you have probably been wondering how to get a first aid certificate and if online classes are a viable option. Good news! Taking a first aid class through SimpleCPR is the easiest and most convenient way to receive your first aid certification. All you need to do is visit SimpleCPR.com, select the “Standard First Aid” course option, and then proceed to make your purchase using our secure online payment system. You will be ready to begin your first aid training as soon as your course has been purchased.

SimpleCPR’s online first aid course provides quick and efficient training that will teach you how to practice safe first aid procedures in almost any emergency circumstance. Knowledge of these procedures will always be beneficial as medical emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere. SimpeCPR’s first aid course will teach you how to assist a choking victim, how to handle different degrees of burns, what to do in the event of heat stroke, how to check for scene safety, the correct way to utilize personal protective equipment, how to prevent shock, and much more.

Once you have studied the training you will then be prompted to take the exams, which are there to ensure that you have thoroughly learned all of the course instruction. Exams are an important aspect of how to get a first aid certificate since your certification relies on your ability to understand all of the first aid material. However, a benefit to taking your first aid class through SimpleCPR is that you will be allowed to take the exams and review the training as many times as you need to in order to pass the course will 100%. This way, once you have completed the course and received your first aid certification, you will be confident in your ability to perform necessary first aid skills in real-life situations.

So if you have been wondering how to get a first aid certificate, the answer is SimpleCPR! Effective, self-paced, online courses are the best way to learn how to provide first aid care. Visit SimpleCPR to begin your first aid course today!

CPR and AED training are two different steps in the process of saving the life of someone suffering from cardiac arrest. The acronym “CPR” stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which is the act of repeatedly compressing a person’s chest in order to keep their blood pumping throughout their body. CPR acts like a manual heartbeat, keeping vital organs alive even after the heart has stopped beating. While many people are already familiar with CPR, its counterpart often goes unnoticed. Most classes are actually offered as CPR AED training, or at least explain the use of the AED in the course of their instruction. “AED” stands for automated external defibrillator and there is a big difference between CPR and AED training even though both are usually covered in the same class.

Unlike CPR which only pumps blood to vital organs, the AED is the machine that can restart the heart. In this respect, you could say that these classes should be termed “AED CPR training” since the AED is a much more important factor to a cardiac arrest victim’s survival. When a person goes into cardiac arrest, their heart has stopped beating. This means that vital organs, such as the brain, will begin to die within minutes if they do not continue to receive blood and oxygen. This is why anyone who is able to provide assistance should step in quickly to administer CPR.

The process for helping a victim of cardiac arrest using CPR and AED is explained below. These steps are always covered in detail no matter what CPR AED training you attend.

First call 9-1-1 to alert medical responders that there is an emergency. As soon as the 9-1-1 call has been placed, CPR compressions should begin immediately. If you are the only one available to assist the victim, do not stop compressions until emergency medical personnel arrive. In the best scenario, there will be several people nearby who can assist you in helping the victim. If this is the case be sure to enlist a few others to help with some tasks such as staying on the phone with the emergency operator, taking turns administering CPR compressions, and finding out if there is an AED nearby.

Most public places will have an available AED, which should then be immediately used on the victim. The AED is entirely automated; it will verbally walk you through preparing the victim and the pad placement, it will assess the victim’s heart rate, and it will determine if the victim requires a shock to reestablish a heartbeat. However if there is no available AED close by, continue administering CPR until medical professionals arrive with one.

If you would like to learn more about CPR and AED training, visit SimpleCPR to view a list of available classes. You can learn how to save a life by taking an online CPR AED training class today!