Why Learn 1st Aid
We talk to great lengths about how to provide care for our horses and mules in case a ride becomes “eventful”. But we all too often neglect the human component of trail riding and camping with horses.
The aftermath of an EVENTFUL ride
Our human bodies are also prone to injuries, trauma, and illness. Worse, we don’t know when an injury may happen to us or the people we love or those who are around us. Can you honestly say, right now, that you have the skills to competently care for an injured person?
It’s always good to have some amount of basic knowledge to handle life’s emergency’s, to keep the situation from going from bad to worse or till the medical help arrives.
Here are the most common excuses that I hear, at my trail riding clinics, when I ask if people have 1st aid training.
- Too busy – Really?
- Don’t know where to go for a class – Google it
- Already have enough knowledge – No, you don’t.
- Accidents happen to other people not to them or their friends, and family. – Are you willing to bet your friends and families lives on it?
I think we can all agree that all of the above excuses are weak.
Being able to administer first aid to the victims of accidents, on the trail, in camp, and at home is one of the most important skills anyone can have. Be the best trail riding partner you can. Learn the basics of first aid, and keep these skills fresh. Your friends and family are worth it.
Here’s 5 good reasons to learn 1st Aid and be the trail riding partner your friends and family deserve.
Learn how to help until EMS arrives
Create confidence
Possessing basic first aid knowledge means that you’ll be more confident in your skills and abilities. Taking first aid training will give you the confidence to help someone in need. The sense of security that this fosters creates a healthy and a more confident environment. The people around you will feel safer and more secure knowing that you can help them if the trip becomes “interesting”.
Prevent situations from becoming worse
In some cases when a person doesn’t receive basic 1st aid care straightaway their situation can deteriorate rapidly. By being able to provide basic care you can stabilize the victim until help arrives. You’ll learn how to improvise basic household items as tools if a first aid kit is not available meaning that you’ll be able to cope with many situations.
Troxel Helmet AFTER an eventful ride
Increase safety
The basis of first aid training is “prevention”. It is always better to be safe than to be sorry. The knowledge of first aid promotes a sense of safety and well-being, and prompts people to be more alert and safe in their surroundings. Awareness and a desire to be accident free can help keep you more safe and secure, reducing the number of accidents.
Increase comfort
Not all accidents necessitate a trip to the hospital but it doesn’t mean they don’t cause some amount of pain. By knowing how to act – even just by employing simple techniques such as applying an ice pack correctly, you’ll help to relieve their discomfort. You’ll also provide emotional support by remaining calm and collected which will make the patient feel more secure.
Help save lives
It’s a fact that having first aid training helps save lives. And that’s not all; giving appropriate first aid immediately can help to reduce a person’s recovery time and make the difference between having a temporary or long term disability. Your friends and family is worth it.
A comprehensive 1st Aid training course will help prepare you for a wide range of situations and give you the confidence and knowledge of how to deal with them quickly, correctly and efficiently. Please take the first step towards becoming 1st Aid trained. Thank you.
As always for the latest and greatest information on trail riding and camping with horses go to www.TrailMeister.com for the world’s largest directory of horse camps and trails, as well as trail tips and videos.