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Trauma-informed first aid is something we rarely talk about. We train people to save lives, but what happens to the first aider after a serious accident, cardiac arrest or traumatic emergency?

In this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate speaks to Catherine Arnold about the psychological impact of giving first aid, bystander trauma and why peer support could be a vital missing piece for first aiders.

Drawing on her own experience of responding to a serious road traffic accident while working as a Red Cross first aid trainer, Catherine explains how the incident affected her mental health and changed the way she viewed first aid training.

We also explore the fight, flight or freeze response, why trained first aiders can struggle in the moment, and why better emotional support after an emergency could help people process what happened and continue in their role.

In this episode:

• What first aid trauma and bystander trauma can look like
• Why first aiders can freeze during an emergency
• The psychological impact of witnessing serious accidents and cardiac arrests
• Why workplace first aiders may need better emotional support
• How peer support can help people process traumatic incidents
• The difference between first aiders and first responders
• Why calling 999 can be one of the most important actions a first aider takes
• How lived experience is shaping Catherine’s work
• What organisations and employers could do differently after a serious workplace incident
• Catherine’s vision for a peer support network for first aiders

Show Notes:

Trauma Informed First Aid Website
Sign up to the Trauma Informed First Aid Newsletter
Trauma Informed First Aid on LinkedIn
GoodSAM Responder
St John Ambulance – First Aid Volunteering Roles
Real First Aid – Adrenaline
Frontiers in Psychiatry – Research Article

Shoulder to Shoulder is a podcast by With-you about mental health, lived experience, recovery, peer support and the conversations that can help us better understand ourselves and each other.

With-you’s First Aiders Peer Support Network is an online community offering connection, shared understanding, and exploration of how peer based & trauma informed approaches can support recovery after a critical incident and form an essential part of responsible First Aid culture.

Click here to register and join the next meeting on the 2nd October! With-you - First Aiders Peer Support Network

Follow Shoulder to Shoulder for more honest conversations about mental health, recovery, lived experience and peer support.

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With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk