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I am starting out as a First aid instructor and was wondering how in depth do you go with certain things. For example what do you teach when it comes to treating wounds. I have been taught hands, arm, legs, forehead and top of the head but i have never been told or taught what to do with and amputee. i would assume apply lots of pressure and try to elevate what is left of the limb. Also when it comes to things like securing a limb the last few courses i have been on with the red cross i have not been shown how to secure legs only arms in a sling or if it is dislocated to strap it to the body. the reason for asking is after looking at the critiriea if you have a full course and you covered everything in depth there seems very little time for practicle sessions. could be nerves any help would be good many thanks
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First of all welcome to the site. Please accept my next comment as trying to be helpful.
Do you think you really have the skills (at present) to teach first aid? No matter what you set out in your sessions you will get asked many questions on subjects, if you can not give the answer then it doesn't show you in a good light.
Amputation comes up nearly all the time and currently there are a few school of thought about how you deal with it. In the military tourniquets are seen as the norm in frontline situations. In civilian life there use is currently not normally taught. But you will be asked why the difference between the two.
The list goes on. I do not want to put you off but you need to be aware of what is current practice, what and why different organisations have different protocols etc.
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oops posted a blank reply sorry.
Thanks for answering my question. Now to answer yours.
I have been a first aider for the last 16 years and i have at least 5 or 6 different teaching/instructing qualifications. i have been a commercial trainer for the last 8 years and have worked every day and have dealt with many an awkward question.
When it comes to first aid i have passed all the tests and assessments needed to teach so to answer your question i would have to say yes i am ready to teach the subject. Unlike a lot of instructors if i do not know the answer to a question i will say i don't know and i will find out. i have a smart phone and quite often I will have the answer to a question by the end of tea break. The reason i asked my question was in the last few courses i have been on the topics i mentioned have not been covered and this has been with the Red Cross. So basically was after some advice.
I do not wish to be rude but you have answered my question about amputation with answers I already know but have not told me a definitive answer to what is right you have just said i need to know what the relevant protocols are. That is why I am on here
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Firstly welcome, Toffeehammer. I might suggest that, if you are training for someone else, why not sit in on a course or two ( just not red cross) and see what comes. failing that, PM me with a emial address and I shall send you a copy of my lesson plans
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Forgive me if I came across in the wrong way, but you did say in your opening sentence that you have never been told or taught what to do with amputees.
The reason I haven't answered you question directly is because there are a lot of different answers, it is all to do with protocols of what ever training organisation you are with. You have not said what you are teaching and who you are teaching to. For example the use of a tourniquets would be likely to be taught in a wilderness, first aid course, but not an FAW.
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Speckles you never come across in the wrong way mate. I should have put recently. Years ago we were taught to apply indirect pressure to stem the flow of blood I.e the groin area for a leg. Do this for around 10 mins and release etc etc. But the recent courses i have been on including the instructors course have not mentioned amputees.
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I've got to agree with Speckles; you really need to know the subject inside out because there will always be some 'expert' who delights in asking difficult question (usually as an excuse to demonstrate their knowledge ...)
You are spot on with admitting when you don't know the answer, always the best policy rather than trying to blag it.
I would also, as Speckles suggested, urge you to sit in on a few other courses with different awarding bodies, not just different trainers. Whilst there is a lot of commonality between different awarding bodies syllabuses (CPR potocol for example is a European standard) some will have variances such as which which topics are covered and how injuries are treated. Sample a couple of courses (or get information from different providers websites) and find an awarding body which you like. It is much easier to deliver something that sits well with you. Once you have subscribed to an awarding body they will then set your syllabus and content so it will simply be a case of signing their song. Should anyone disagree with what you are teaching, you are teaching someone else's protocols (which should be evidence based).
You can also deliver you own in-house First Aid courses but then you really have to know it all and be accountable for everything you are teaching.
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The problem with first aid is that procedures can often be based on very little research. Overlaid on this is also the ability of the first aider to retain practical skills. Aspirin is an example where time taken to obtain emergency assistance can decide on your actions. As another example; croup and steam. There is little support that it does any good, but there are valid concerns regarding potential scolding. So here both methods could be considered correct. Personally, I would edge on the side of not using steam. Then you enter the realms lotions and potions. I would use calamine lotion for minor sun burn. But in a workplace or non home environment this would be wrong. 
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Dont know if this is still an open topic as I have just joined. As has been said there are a lot of differing opinions on trating amputaions which in itself is a very rare injury unless through RTC or Explosion. You are correct on use of direct and indirect pressure. Tourniquets are back in fashion following evidene from war zones but are in the sense they are life savers (catastrophic bleeding) rather than limb savers. A stump bandage would also be appropriate. Sunch additions as celox, gauze packing, blast bandgaes are available but beyond FAW Author of 'Wilderness and Survival medicine' and 'Clinical Assessment and Diagnostic Skills' www.survival-medic.com
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Hi Chris and welcome to the site. We hold a nation FA conference each year. Sir Prof Keith Porter covered some of the new medical evidence coming back from the war zone. He said that he would like to work with the Association of First Aiders (AoFA) to draw up first aid procedures for using Tourniquets.
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered, Registered Users, Subscribers
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Originally Posted by: admin  Hi Chris and welcome to the site. We hold a nation FA conference each year. Sir Prof Keith Porter covered some of the new medical evidence coming back from the war zone. He said that he would like to work with the Association of First Aiders (AoFA) to draw up first aid procedures for using Tourniquets. Thanks was that the one in Kettering? I went to some there recently Author of 'Wilderness and Survival medicine' and 'Clinical Assessment and Diagnostic Skills' www.survival-medic.com
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Originally Posted by: Toffeehammer I am starting out as a First aid instructor and was wondering how in depth do you go with certain things. For example what do you teach when it comes to treating wounds. I have been taught hands, arm, legs, forehead and top of the head but i have never been told or taught what to do with and amputee. i would assume apply lots of pressure and try to elevate what is left of the limb. Also when it comes to things like securing a limb the last few courses i have been on with the red cross i have not been shown how to secure legs only arms in a sling or if it is dislocated to strap it to the body. the reason for asking is after looking at the critiriea if you have a full course and you covered everything in depth there seems very little time for practicle sessions. could be nerves any help would be good many thanks the key thing to remember is why FAW in particular has been 'dumbed down' 1. the impact of health and safety legislation 2. changes in the pattern of industry and of the risk profile of the 'average' workplace 3. specialist training where it is needed - i.e. high angle, confined space, agri/ arboricultural etc there is little or no point tieing people up with triangulars without them having adequate analgesia for it all to be cut off a few minutes later when an Ambulance crew arrive with proper splintage and analgesia. and how many amputations other than fingertips and the occaisional toe will you actually see, in 15 years of prehospital care and 10 + years of acute care experience across trauma theatres / A+E / and specialist trauma inpatient units i've seen a handful of amputations that weren't finger tips and even then only a handful of those - especially if you don't count anything where the distal phalanx is still attached to the rest of the hand. people working in 'remote' places, people working with specialist hazards and people who will be working at events require additional training over and above the normal content of EFAW and FAW. you are far more likely in general workplace first aid to use an AED than you are to see an amputation .
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