Having prior knowledge of potentially life saving first aid education is one aspect of being a freediving instructor that I often take for granted. To maintain an annual AIDA instructor status it is necessary to also maintain certification in First Aid & CPR. Additionally for me, beyond that, I enjoy teaching and sharing this vital information with others, and so became a First Aid & CPR instructor, firstly with the PADI owned Emergency First Response (EFR), and once AIDA developed it's own freediving specific Emergency Medical Responder course, teaching AIDA FEMR.
So here are my top 5 reasons why as a freediver you should take First Aid & CPR course as early as possible in your freediving journey.
1) Help Others:
It should go without saying that by becoming first aid and cpr certified you have a much greater possibility to help out buddies or other freedivers in the unlucky event of an accident. Being someone with this knowledge could make a big difference for a positive outcome from a bad situation.
2) Help Yourself:
With the right knowledge we can recognise potentially harmful situations for or of ourselves, before they arise or before they create a bigger issue. You could be in a position to recognise a medical complaint or onset of a condition in yourself, and act upon it before it escalates in to a bigger, more serious problem.
3) Awareness:
This is an important quality for freedivers, but too often we get caught up in ourselves and our own minds while diving. To be a competent buddy and to qualify as a higher level freediver an emphasis is placed on buddying, helping and rescuing. So why not start on this path early and already be thinking about others and their wellbeing as a first level freediver?
4) Family & Friends:
Away from the world of breath holding, being someone with life saving knowledge could one day save a member of your family or a close friend. Don't be that person that has to stand by because of a lack of knowledge or training. Be proactive in helping the people you care about and learn life saving skills.
5) Extra Mile:
Having a qualification such as first aid and cpr makes you stand out among your peers, whether in your current workplace or if changing career. Such a commitment displays a desire for knowledge and a desire to help others, which of course are highly admirable traits.
EXTRA:
Next level learning. The AIDA FEMR course goes above and beyond a normal first aid course. It is the first ever freediving centred first aid and cpr course on the market, and includes skills beyond traditional courses, such as; intubation of airways, advanced spinal injuries, AED & O2 as standard, DCS and other diving specific illnesses.
Click HERE for more detailed information about the AIDA FEMR Course taught by OBF
So here are my top 5 reasons why as a freediver you should take First Aid & CPR course as early as possible in your freediving journey.
1) Help Others:
It should go without saying that by becoming first aid and cpr certified you have a much greater possibility to help out buddies or other freedivers in the unlucky event of an accident. Being someone with this knowledge could make a big difference for a positive outcome from a bad situation.
2) Help Yourself:
With the right knowledge we can recognise potentially harmful situations for or of ourselves, before they arise or before they create a bigger issue. You could be in a position to recognise a medical complaint or onset of a condition in yourself, and act upon it before it escalates in to a bigger, more serious problem.
3) Awareness:
This is an important quality for freedivers, but too often we get caught up in ourselves and our own minds while diving. To be a competent buddy and to qualify as a higher level freediver an emphasis is placed on buddying, helping and rescuing. So why not start on this path early and already be thinking about others and their wellbeing as a first level freediver?
4) Family & Friends:
Away from the world of breath holding, being someone with life saving knowledge could one day save a member of your family or a close friend. Don't be that person that has to stand by because of a lack of knowledge or training. Be proactive in helping the people you care about and learn life saving skills.
5) Extra Mile:
Having a qualification such as first aid and cpr makes you stand out among your peers, whether in your current workplace or if changing career. Such a commitment displays a desire for knowledge and a desire to help others, which of course are highly admirable traits.
EXTRA:
Next level learning. The AIDA FEMR course goes above and beyond a normal first aid course. It is the first ever freediving centred first aid and cpr course on the market, and includes skills beyond traditional courses, such as; intubation of airways, advanced spinal injuries, AED & O2 as standard, DCS and other diving specific illnesses.
Click HERE for more detailed information about the AIDA FEMR Course taught by OBF
Training CPR skills
By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving