Okay, so you have recognized that there is an emergency, and you have made a decision to act. You go
over to the victim and say, “Hi, I’ve had first aid training, can I help?” And they say “No!” Now what do you do? Force
the victim to accept your help? Go about your business?
No. If you think that there is a medical emergency and the victim needs help, just hang around and keep talking. Sometimes it takes a little persuading to get a sick or injured person to accept your help. And remember, it is always your choice whether to call for help or not, no matter what the victim says.
If you think about it, refusing help when we are sick or hurt isn’t so unusual. None of us really wants five fire/rescue responders, an EMT and a medic, and a couple police officers, plus all the neighbors hanging around, and we’re in our underwear or pajamas! What we really want to do is to go home and get in bed with the dog or the cat and make it go away.
So be patient. Keep talking calmly and explain what you would like to do to help. Tell the victim what your
training is and try to engage him conversation. Ask if there is someone he would like you to call. Eventually he will
accept your help.
over to the victim and say, “Hi, I’ve had first aid training, can I help?” And they say “No!” Now what do you do? Force
the victim to accept your help? Go about your business?
No. If you think that there is a medical emergency and the victim needs help, just hang around and keep talking. Sometimes it takes a little persuading to get a sick or injured person to accept your help. And remember, it is always your choice whether to call for help or not, no matter what the victim says.
If you think about it, refusing help when we are sick or hurt isn’t so unusual. None of us really wants five fire/rescue responders, an EMT and a medic, and a couple police officers, plus all the neighbors hanging around, and we’re in our underwear or pajamas! What we really want to do is to go home and get in bed with the dog or the cat and make it go away.
So be patient. Keep talking calmly and explain what you would like to do to help. Tell the victim what your
training is and try to engage him conversation. Ask if there is someone he would like you to call. Eventually he will
accept your help.