While First Aid skills are essential in all walks of life, it is vital to be able to perform close protection. Many schoolchildren now learn basic First Aid. This is a great thing. Everyone should learn First Aid. Over the years, I’ve been surprised at how many bodyguards have their CVs/resumes missing First Aid. These candidates will answer questions about First Aid and say that they did it ‘about 10 years ago’.

This is unacceptable. You will need First Aid skills in your job as close protection. Although you may not need the bootleg turn you practice in the car, or the quick draw-and-roll technique you know for hotel corridors, you will still need to be able to perform First Aid.

First aid is an essential skill that must be practiced constantly. You must keep up-to-date with the latest techniques and ideas. Although most books on “close protection” include a chapter about First Aid, this is often a token gesture that is used to fill out the book. The First Aid that is offered by authors tends to be sexy, such as tracheotomies, gunshot wounds, and suckling chest injuries. The simple facts are ignored by these authors. For example, your principal is more likely to choke on a pretzel than die from being shot in the chest. First Aid is a subject that requires a separate book. It cannot be covered in one chapter. A course in First Aid will be required.

The draft documents that were submitted to the Security Industry Authority (SIA), the UK’s key skills or core competencies, contained only sexy First Aid. Some people lobbied for this to be removed and replaced with a formal qualification as a First Aider. The SIA eventually chose to offer the Health and Safety Executive’s First Aid at Work’ course. It is four-days long and includes written and practical exams. To be able to work as a Close Protection Officer in the UK, you’ll need to have a First Aid qualification. They cover more than just tracheotomies. If you really want to learn, you can also learn about suckling chest injuries.

These topics will be covered in the course:

First bodyguards Dubai aid

Hygiene for personal use

Circulation

Resuscitation

Bandages and dressings

Wounds and bleeding

Circulatory disorders

The duties of a first aider

The skeleton

Fractures

Unconsciousness

Burns and scalding

Transport and handling

The course certificate is valid for 3 years. After that, you will need to take a refresher course of 2 days. To re-certify your certificate, you must repeat the entire course three times.

Other Essential First-Aid Courses

The basic First Aid course is sufficient to obtain a UK operating license. However, you will need to take at least two additional First Aid courses if you want to be a protection professional.

Course

This course teaches how to use an AED (automated external defibrillator). This device can be used for administering electric shocks to patients in cardiac arrest. It is the best way to increase your chances of survival. AEDs are a common tool in close protection. You must be certified in their use. The majority of ‘defib’ courses take around an hour and must be renewed every six-month.

First Aid to Children

A first aid certificate that is applicable to children can make a close protection officer more useful in a family setting. The majority of courses are designed to teach first aid to adults, so it will be difficult to find one specifically for children. There are many important differences in first aid for children. Participants will learn how to resuscitate children and infants, conduct risk assessments, and deal with seizures, choking, burns, and scalds. You will often work with families that include children in your career as close protection. They will often require your assistance. It is important to be able to respond to an emergency such as an accident or illness. These skills are essential if you want to be a bodyguard in a setting that involves children.