Is first aid required?

[stas]

Hi,
Can one of the PADI instructors here tell me if first aid is a requirement for the PADI rescue class. I have a CPR cert but my shop with which I am taking rescue says that it is a padi rec to have first aid also. Can someone confirm this. In general, do non-instructors have acess to exact requiremnts?
Thanks, Stas

 

[spectrum]

PADI sells it as the EFR (Emergency First Responder) which bundles very basic first aid with CPR & mouth to mouth. I think all agencies also require an oxygen administration cert as well.

I'm not an instructor BTW.

Pete

 

[knotical]

Yes, PADI requires both CPR and First Aid training within the previous two years. PADI’s EFR course works, but so do courses from the Red Cross, American Heart, etc.

Not a requirement, but highly recommended, is an Oxygen Provider course, since that is the first aid of choice for many aquatic injuries.

 

[sberanek]

I have Red Cross Adult, Child, and Infant CPR and the same catergories in First Aid and PADI had no problem taking those for my requirements for Rescue Class.

--Shannon

 

[DiveMaven]

Yup, basic first aid and CPR. Ironically, we had an ER nurse in our class and because she didn't carry a "first aid/CPR" card, she was required to take the EFR class by our instructor. Not sure all instructors would have required that, but ours followed the letter of the rule.

 

[Guba]

When I took rescue, I was currently a lifeguard and lifeguard trainer. They accepted my first aid training with no questions.

As for the ER nurse, that's sort of understandable. While her training in what she does is far superior, there are elements that are a bit different in providing care in the field. Once upon a time, I was involved in an exercise in which teams of "rescuers" were challenged to give care in "field" conditions. Our team was composed of trained "lay" people (volunteer fire dept, paramedics, EMT's, etc...) and there was one team composed of doctors, two of which were ER specialists. In essence, we waxed them like a surfboard in the performance of field emergency care. In talking with them over lunch afterward, a couple of them explained how this could happen:
"It's the total opposite of what we (doctors) do. In the field, resources are limited--in the ER we have everything we need and everyone is pretty specialized. Out here, the emphasis was on evaluating and immobilizing for transport--We're trained to 'unpack' patients and prepare for treatment. It just goes to show that specific training is needed for specific tasks."

That might explain the rationale on why the nurse was required to take the course, but it in no way minimizes her skills and expertise in her professional environment.

 

[rongoodman]

My instructor accepted my paramedic card in lieu of basic first aid.

 

[ronbeau]

PADI sells it as the EFR (Emergency First Responder) which bundles very basic first aid with CPR & mouth to mouth. I think all agencies also require an oxygen administration cert as well.

I'm not an instructor BTW.

Pete

Pete, NAUI does not require O₂ administration for the Rescue course but they do require first aid & CPR.