• Know what to do before the ambulance arrives."Ambulance" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: Matti Mattila (Matti Mattila) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
  
  

Who Should Learn First Aid?

• Anyone can learn first aid. People working in fields such as health care, child care, elderly care or professional rescue are especially encouraged to earn first aid certification. In fact, some states require people working in those fields to not only earn first aid certification, but to keep that certification up to date.
  
  

Types of First Aid

• The Red Cross provides various courses for different types of first aid training. They are:
  First Aid/CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation)/AED (Automated External Defibrillator) for Schools and the Community -- a general course for adults
  Adult CPR
  Child and Infant CPR
  Adult and Child AED
  Sports Safety Training
  Babysitter's Training -- a 6½-hour course for 11- to 15-year-olds
  BAT (Basic Aid Training) for 8- to 10-year-olds
  FACT (First Aid for Children Today) for 5- to 8-year-olds
  Pet First Aid
  
  

First Aid in the Workplace

• Aside from basic first aid, many programs offer courses in blood-borne pathogens. The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set standards for workers' protection against exposure to pathogens transmitted through direct blood contact. Its website contains information on preventive measures, potential hazards and post-exposure follow-up procedures.
  
  

Be Prepared

• In addition to earning certification in first aid, individuals are encouraged to keep basic emergency supplies on hand at home, school and in the workplace. First aid kits need to be checked and restocked regularly, and any medications or other items with expiration dates need to be updated as frequently as possible.
  
  First aid kits should be kept in an area that is easy to find but out of reach of small children.
  
  The OSHA website contains a comprehensive list of emergency situations and how to prepare for each one, including evacuation planning and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) system of prepardness.
  
  

Beyond the Red Cross

• While the Red Cross is the most recognizable name in first aid training and provides courses nationwide, it is not the only organization to offer first aid training. First Aid Web Inc. offers online training according to Red Cross guidelines as well as the courses conducted by the American Heart Association. Medic First Aid International also offers First Aid courses based on guidelines set forth by the American Heart Association, the International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care, the ASTM Standard defining the performance of first aid providers, the National Standard Curriculum for Bystander Care, and others.