Why first aid training is essential for people of all ages

First aid is a lifelong and life saving skill that can be taught in childhood and developed throughout life.

Knowing how to respond to emergencies and save a life is a skill that will be essential through every stage of life, whether in childhood knowing how to help a friend with a grazed knee, to adulthood looking after your children, or colleagues in your workplace.

Surf Life Saving WA has a range of courses from nationally recognised units of competency to non-accredited introductory courses that cater to any age group.

In this article, we cover the courses that are relevant to each phase of life.

First Aid Courses tailored to every phase of life

Childhood – First Aid for Children

For school-aged children, SLSWA offers Life Skills for Life, which is a program run in schools for all age groups. The program includes our BeachSAFE and Life Skills for Life programs.

• BeachSAFE

The course teaches kids fundamental BeachSAFE principles of safety at the beach, Aquatic Education, First Aid and CPR and Emergency Preparedness and introduces participants to the SLSWA lifesaving services offered across WA.

• Life Skills for Life

This course equips students from years 5, 6 and 7 with the knowledge, skills and confidence to effectively respond to first aid and emergencies. It is delivered through an interactive resuscitation workshop. Kids are engaged through hands-on activities using CPR manikins and training defibrillators, learning how to respond in emergencies and how to perform basic CPR.

Adulthood – First Aid for Adults

Adults (and teenagers over 13 years) can participate in our nationally recognised first aid courses. These include HLTAID001 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, HLTAID003 Provide First Aid and their respective refresher courses. We strongly believe that all adults have a responsibility to learn and update their first aid skills.

Adults also spend a large portion of their time at work, so all members of the workplace must know first aid. Partaking in a corporate first aid training course with colleagues can help ensure everyone can respond to emergencies if a colleague or client is unresponsive, having difficulty breathing or is injured and increase staff capabilities.

Parenthood – First Aid for Parents

Parenthood marks a particularly important stage of life to know first aid. For those who have children or care for children (carers, teachers, family members), it is also vital that they know how to treat children and infants in emergencies. We offer tailored courses for home and education settings, Home Lifesavers Course and HLTAID004 Provide an Emergency First Aid Response in an Education and Care Setting.

Ready to get started?

Equip yourself with lifelong skills and become an #everydaylifesaver.

To book, simply find the course you wish to attend on our first aid training page and click to ‘Enrol Today’.

If you have any questions, please contact us on 9207 6666 or email training@slswa.com.au.