It’s a Good Time to Brush Up on First Aid & CPR

Even though it’s been a mild winter on the Mid-Atlantic coast, it’s still winter.  There’s less sailing going on right now.  So, that makes it a great time to take advantage of the off season and brush up on your first aid and CPR skills.  I write this post after having completed first aid and CPR training earlier today.  Even though most certifications are good for more than a year, I feel better about taking a refresher every year.  If everything goes right, these are not skills that I have to use very often.  So, most of my practice comes from the classroom setting (thank goodness).  The yearly refreshers give me good updates; and renews my confidence that I will know what to do if the need arises. I highly recommend the formal training offered by the red cross.  You can find seminars at local colleges, public buildings and community centers. 

The Red Cross website is a great resource for classes and tips on preparedness for a lot of different situations.  They even have a page dedicated to what you should put in a first aid kit. 

Please take a class, or at least take a look at the links in this post BEFORE you need to use them.  A little preparation will come in handy in those unexpected moments out on the water during the sailing season. 

Here are a few additional first aid resources to check out: