A recent report by the BBC** claims people who make irrational decision when faced with problems are at the mercy of their emotions.
The report goes on to state that the Brain’s emotional centre, the amygdala, is the origin of decisions and it becomes extremely active in people faced with a difficult situation but reactions to its affects vary, according to Researchers at the University College London.
The researchers found the people that kept a cool head managed to keep their emotions in check, whereas others were led by their emotional response.*
This is useful information to know as First Aiders. Many First Aiders are concerned that they will not be able to respond in an emergency situation. When surveyed, 60% of new course participants (“new” meaning they had never attended a first aid course before) voiced this as their primary concern.
Daniel Goldman, author of the international bestseller Emotional Intelligence demonstrated how we can control our emotional responses by first of all becoming aware of the responses.
Emotions, if left unchecked can fuel irrational acts, however that need not be the case. I often talk about having a “casualty driven” approach to first aid when dealing with a casualty as opposed to being “procedure driven”. What does this mean? A casualty driven approach to first aid means that as a First Aider, you focus on what you can do for the casualty rather than focussing on whether or not you are following the "correct" procedure.
This doesn’t mean that procedures aren’t important. Of course they are. What it means is that procedures should only be used as guidelines, because every single first aid situation is totally unique. Although there are similarities between different incidents, they are never the same. So procedures should be taught as guidance only.
Focus on what help the individual casualty wants/needs from you. Ask yourself “What does this casualty want/need from me right now?” When you do this, you’ll find yourself responding better in any situation – because when you focus on the casualty rather than yourself, your brain’s emotional centre may be less active as the logical and creative hemispheres of the brain are actively seeking answers to your question.
** Source: BBC Website 3 August 2006* The study findings were published in the Science Journal, according to the BBC report.
The report goes on to state that the Brain’s emotional centre, the amygdala, is the origin of decisions and it becomes extremely active in people faced with a difficult situation but reactions to its affects vary, according to Researchers at the University College London.
The researchers found the people that kept a cool head managed to keep their emotions in check, whereas others were led by their emotional response.*
This is useful information to know as First Aiders. Many First Aiders are concerned that they will not be able to respond in an emergency situation. When surveyed, 60% of new course participants (“new” meaning they had never attended a first aid course before) voiced this as their primary concern.
Daniel Goldman, author of the international bestseller Emotional Intelligence demonstrated how we can control our emotional responses by first of all becoming aware of the responses.
Emotions, if left unchecked can fuel irrational acts, however that need not be the case. I often talk about having a “casualty driven” approach to first aid when dealing with a casualty as opposed to being “procedure driven”. What does this mean? A casualty driven approach to first aid means that as a First Aider, you focus on what you can do for the casualty rather than focussing on whether or not you are following the "correct" procedure.
This doesn’t mean that procedures aren’t important. Of course they are. What it means is that procedures should only be used as guidelines, because every single first aid situation is totally unique. Although there are similarities between different incidents, they are never the same. So procedures should be taught as guidance only.
Focus on what help the individual casualty wants/needs from you. Ask yourself “What does this casualty want/need from me right now?” When you do this, you’ll find yourself responding better in any situation – because when you focus on the casualty rather than yourself, your brain’s emotional centre may be less active as the logical and creative hemispheres of the brain are actively seeking answers to your question.
** Source: BBC Website 3 August 2006* The study findings were published in the Science Journal, according to the BBC report.
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11:14 AM
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