How important is first aid training for truck drivers?

It’s been highly recommended for years for Truck Drivers to undergo First Aid training. In fact some companies make it mandatory, especially for long haul drivers.

But what’s often overlooked is why knowing First Aid is so important for everyone, not just the driver.

Truckers are often defacto 'first responders' to an outback emergency

Australia is a huge country and many truckies take long journeys into very isolated places.

Often a truck driver will be the first person to come across an accident, especially if it's in the middle of nowhere.

In these cases, where an ambulance or other medicla help could be hours aways, the skills and knowledge a truck driver has gained from their first aid training, can be a literal lifesaver.

Knowing how to apply CPR, how to stop bleeding, how to handle someone who has a suspected neck or back injury, etc, etc are all vital skills that truckies have if they have done their first aid training.

This is true whether the accident involves someone in a car, on a motorbike or even a fellow truckie.

Not just a first aid practitioner but also a first aid kit holder

Generally, truck drivers also carry first aid kits in their trucks as well. So not only is the driver trained in first aid, they also have the vital medical equipment with them to help dress injuries, wash harmful substances from people’s eyes, and so on.

This combination of the right skills and the right equipment being on site at the right time can literally be a matter of life and death for someone injured in the outback of Australia.

The person a truckie might help, could be themselves

Incredibly, if you think about it, knowing the skills of first aid can even help the truck driver themselves if they are in an accident. If the driver is injured in accident but still conscious, they can help any bystanders to assist themselves by explaining how to apply basic first aid techniques. The driver can also direct bystanders to locate the first aid kit in the truck and tell them how to use the contents.

All this is equally true, even if the accident happens on a busy freeway because the truck driver is already there on scene and can apply their knowledge of first aid and use their first aid kit while the ambulance is on its way.

Truckies can also be a vital emergency communication link

Most truck drivers also have CB radios. These can provide a vital communication link in an emergency if the accident happens outside of normal mobile phone coverage like somewhere in the outback.

We’ve also all seen videos of truckies using their trucks to protect people in broken down cars or after accidents. A huge semi-trailer with flashing lights parked behind two cars involved in an accident is a pretty good safety barrier on a freeway.

So truckies do an incredible job of keeping Australia moving. But with first aid training under their belt, and a first aid kit under their seat, they are often, quite literally our first responders out there on Australia’s lonely long distance roads.

If you need assistance organising first aid training for a fleet of truck drivers or need to book it for yourself, call us at Results First Aid training on 1300 661 065.

We do on-site training anywhere in Victoria for any group of 12 people or more. And we also offer Blended Training which lets you do most of the training online. It's convenient and a real time-saver.

Find out more or book now at https://www.resultsfirstaid.com/courses