by Melissa Marie

Created on: June 01, 2008

You're pulling up to what appears to be an automobile collision in the middle of a remote intersection. Neither driver is moving. You reach for your cell phone and stop. Should I get involved? Some will make the call while others won't. Let me ask you this, if you don't get involved then who will? The fear of being sued stops so many people in their tracks. However, all fifty states including the District of Columbia have laws protecting people called Good Samaritan Laws. This law provides protection for any person who acts on good faith, within their training, and accepts nothing in return. So, ask yourself again, if not you then who?

Everyone should at the very least get first aid training. Grandmothers take care of grandchildren, and what if they choke? The idea is that everyone should be prepared. But just how far you should be prepared depends on your job as well as your comfort level. People who work in the capacity of providing care or security, such as police, firefighters, doctors, x-ray techs, ski patrol, et cetera are REQUIRED by law to have advanced first aid training. What is the reason and what is the difference? People who work in these positions get paid to protect us. THAT is the difference. They accept fees for their services, and are thereby required to be certified in not only First Aid training but also Advanced First Aid training. Do you get paid to protect people or to look out for people? Then advanced first aid training is definitely for you.

But what about the people that don't take care of others? The decision is up to you. However consider the above two mentioned scenarios. How helpful do you want to be to the people in the vehicles, or to your grandchildren? First aid training might help you to save a life, but advanced first aid training builds upon that foundation furthering the chance of a life being saved. When it comes to those you know and love, if you are caring for them, you should want to be as prepared as you can be. Speaking of which, in this day and age of war and terrorist attacks, how prepared are you? Does your family have a disaster plan? Does your place of employment have one too? The American Red Cross suggests that you not only have a plan, but that you build an emergency supply kit for home and office as well. One never knows what the next moment might bring. And that's where we began - the final step is to get trained. At a minimum everyone should know basic first aid procedures. Otherwise how will you help yourself and those you love in an emergency situation? "Train, Empower, Prepare", these are the goals of the American Red Cross. And EVERYONE can gain from their teachings.

For more information visit: www.redcross.org

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