First Aid is immediate medical aid that is given before the medical professionals show up during an emergency. It is often administered by non-medical professionals, workplace staff, and first responders. First Aid is designed for helping those in need during a crisis until they can get further help from paramedics, their doctor, or at a hospital.
There are different levels of First-Aid training. The most basic involves learning how to deal with simple cuts, burns, and minor injuries. There are also levels of certification in First Aid. This is sometimes required for various jobs and careers. Training may be offered directly through your place of employment or through an organization such as the American Red Cross.
Higher levels of First-Aid training may even include CPR and AED courses. CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This is a method of sustaining life when someone’s heart stops beating. AED is an abbreviation for an automated external defibrillator. These devices are located in many buildings and workplaces and are used when someone suffers from cardiac arrest.
In today’s world, training in First Aid may be done one-on-one, in a group class, or even online. Jobs that require First-Aid training are diverse and can be found in a wide array of industries and business sectors. Here are 15 such jobs that require training in First Aid:
1. Law Enforcement
Law enforcement is a career path that can lead in many directions. This can mean becoming a police officer, a sheriff’s deputy, a detective, or even an FBI agent. Law-enforcement personnel is tasked with enforcing laws, investigating crimes, and keeping the public safe.
Knowing First Aid is vital to a career in law enforcement. Police officers are often the first to arrive on the scene when there’s an accident or emergency. They frequently arrive before EMTs get there.
The requirements of a career in law enforcement can vary greatly by state and local laws. A two-year degree in law enforcement can be helpful but is not always necessary. Training will usually be required in a Police Academy where candidates will need to meet physical fitness standards.
The average salary for a police officer will depend on where you live. In New York, it’s around $53,800 a year. On the lower end of the spectrum, you will make around $35,545 annually.
2. Firefighter
Firefighters, much like police officers, are often the first group to show up on the scene of an accident. This is why it’s important for them to learn First Aid. Entry-level firefighter positions do not usually require a college education, but candidates will go through some rigorous training.
Training can even begin early at a vocational school. State certification is often required before a candidate can apply at the local station. The average salary of a firefighter is around $48,000 per year. At the high end of the scale, a firefighter may make upwards of $71,000 per year along with some nice benefits.
3. Emergency Medical Technician
Emergency medical technicians, or paramedics, are tasked with knowing First Aid as well as advanced medical care. They are often the group that people wait for while performing First-Aid. That doesn’t negate their need for knowing the basics and how to deal with the small stuff, though.
In most places, being an EMT does not require a college degree. Candidates must attend courses and receive certification in CPR and other basics. A high-school diploma is always required. The more advanced classes are to be found at EMT training centers in each state.
Once a candidate meets all state and local requirements, they can then apply with local EMT services. This job has an earnings potential of between $21,800 to $34,600 a year.
4. Lifeguard
Lifeguards are tasked with enforcing safety rules at public pools and beaches. They may also be required to save potential drowning victims and to administer First Aid to those who have accidents. Accidents are unfortunately common on slippery surfaces around pools.
Being a lifeguard will not usually require a college degree. Requirements will vary greatly depending on the beach or public pool one applies to be a lifeguard at. Training may even be provided directly by the employer, making this a great entry-level job.
The average pay for a lifeguard in the U.S. is around $10.19 to $14.00 an hour. This can of course varies depending on your location and experience. Good swimming skills and certification in First Aid are essential to this job.
5. Athletics Coach
Being an athletics coach can mean coaching Little League Baseball, a high-school sports team, or even at the collegiate and professional levels. Pro sports and colleges will often have a team of doctors on standby. At the amateur level and for kid’s leagues, however, a coach will definitely need to know First Aid.
Sports are mostly safe, but a number of different types of accidents can occur. Exertion can also take a toll on one’s body and cause medical issues. It’s beneficial to have a coach who knows how to administer aid in such cases.
The average salary for a high-school coach is around $44,000 per year. A pro coach can earn in the millions. Coaches will frequently be required to have a degree in physical education as well as some experience in the sport they intend to coach in.
6. Personal Trainer
Personal trainers need to be familiar with First Aid for many of the same reasons that coaches do. Exercise can lead to various types of injuries. Exercise equipment can also be the cause of mishaps. Once again, exertion may cause unforeseen issues with a person’s heart, breathing, or blood pressure.
A personal trainer will usually need certification in personal training and gym instruction. They will often be required to get trained in a variety of First-Aid techniques too. Last of all, it’s important for personal trainers to maintain a level of fitness for themselves so they can set a good example and keep up with the physical demands of this job.
Being a personal trainer pays between $30,900 and $89,900 per year depending on your experience. The average median income for a personal trainer is $52,576.
7. Electrician
This might seem like a strange job to require First-Aid knowledge, but there are a lot of bad things that can happen to an electrician while on the job. Electric shocks can cause the heart to stop, requiring knowledge of CPR. Any type of labor can lead to accidents that require some First Aid.
Electricians wire buildings and repair problems with electrical systems in both residential and commercial locations. Only a high-school education is required, but vocational- and trade schools can certainly help with a career in this field. Most electricians get their start in an apprenticeship program.
Apprenticeships can be applied for with the electrician or company one wishes to work for. This may take up to four or five years. Master electricians can make up to $32.28 per hour.
8. Construction Worker
Construction workers need to know First Aid for many of the same reasons that electricians do. Construction sites are filled with potential safety hazards. Cuts, falls, machinery accidents and falling debris can all lead to injuries. This is why First Aid is so important on every construction site.
The average construction worker won’t likely need to be trained in First Aid. If you want to be a foreman, however, then First-Aid training will likely be required. You may also be required to complete an OSHA Outreach Training Program.
Becoming a construction worker may require some trade-school training. From there, it’s just a matter of gaining experience until you’re promoted to foreman. Construction workers make on average between $21,000 and $48,000 per year.
9. Flight Attendant
If a medical emergency happens on a plane, it may be a while before the person can be taken to a hospital. That’s why it’s so important for flight attendants to know First Aid. The average flight attendant earns between $48,000 and $114,000 per year.
Flight attendants wait on passengers and instruct them on emergency procedures. They work hard to keep everyone safe and comfortable. Flight attendants usually undergo between six weeks to three months of training from the airline they’re hired to work for.
Being a flight attendant normally only requires a high-school diploma or GED. Applicants will usually have to pass criminal background checks and a drug test as well. Even those with no experience can often attend a training program directly with an airline.
10. Childcare Provider
Being a childcare provider means keeping children safe. Keeping them safe means learning to administer First Aid. There are many different types of accidents that can happen as well as health issues that can arise when one takes care of children.
Being a childcare provider may mean working in a daycare or nursery. These jobs are often entry-level, but they can require state certification and usually do require special insurance. A Child Development Associate credit is often a criterion for this job. Being an in-home childcare provider will require prior experience licensing in some states.
Childcare workers make between $14,000 and $30,000 per year. One needs to know the requirements and then apply or send your resume to daycare facilities that are currently hiring.
11. Prison Staff
The prison staff has to keep order and also maintain a safe environment for the prisoners. Accidents, health issues, and injuries due to violence can happen at any moment in a prison system. This is why prison staff often have to undergo basic training in First Aid.
In the federal prison system, staff workers make between $72,500 and $154,800 per year. Each state will have a different pay scale. This will also depend on specific positions, the level of danger, and your experience.
Being a correctional officer often requires a Bachelor’s Degree. A good work history is often necessary as well as a background check and drug screening. To get into this field, be on the lookout for state or federal job fairs.
12. Social Worker
Social workers need to learn a wide variety of skills. This includes counseling, case management, legislative advocacy, and assisting people with various resources. First Aid is another skill that can come in handy while a social worker is on the job.
An entry-level position as a social worker requires at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. Internships may also be helpful. Take the time to learn the requirements in your state before applying to a specific position.
A social worker can start out making around $42,000 per year. At the higher end of the scale, they can easily pull in $72,500 a year. This is a rewarding field with some great earning potential.
13. Security Guard
Being a security guard can have a wide range of requirements depending on where you work. There are security companies that provide services for different businesses and locations. Entry-level positions are often available by applying directly with one of these companies.
Some security positions may actually require a state peace-officer certificate with the type of training one goes through to become a police officer. Almost all security jobs will require some basic First-Aid training. This is just a standard protocol for a job that is all about keeping people and properties safe and secure.
The average security guard makes between $10.00 and $18.73 per hour. The median income level rests right at $13.38 an hour. Wages will grow with experience.
14. Dental Assistant
Dental assistants directly assist dentists with their procedures. This may include handing them medical tools, maintaining equipment, and even doing some basic prep work with their patients. They may also need to handle scheduling appointments and other office work.
Dental assistants need at least a high-school diploma or GED. Some dental practices may train qualified candidates themselves. In some states, applicants are required to first complete accredited training programs. The average dental assistant makes around $39,770 per year.
With all of the tools around, and with the use of anesthetics, First Aid is an important skill for a dental assistant to possess. It is often a part of required training in order to begin a career in this field.
15. Gym Employees
We have already covered why personal trainers need to know some basic First Aid. The same holds true for regular gym employees. This could be the workers who check in gym-goers, those who run cash registers, and those who maintain the equipment.
These are all starter jobs that only require a high-school diploma or GED. These jobs can pay anywhere from minimum wage to $15.00 an hour depending on your location and personal work experience. One typically only needs to apply directly with the gym to get hired.
Once hired, a gym worker will often be trained in First Aid. Gym goers are subject to having health problems. There are also endless ways in which someone could get injured with all of the exercise machines and heavy weights lying around.