The aim of first aid is to provide immediate care to a person or an animal that is injured. When a doctor is more than an hour way, the principles and skills of a first aid responder are more important than ever.

Common sense dictates that we prepare for the most common injuries that we may encounter. Thus, learning the basics of rescue breathing, CPR, and the Heimlich maneuver for choking is a sensible minimum.

Classes teaching these skills can be found through the American Red Cross or similar programs. It is the responsibility of each individual, but specially those who live, work and play in remote places, to have the ability to act skillfully in time of emergency.

In order to become proficient and effective in using first aid and natural medicine, or any medicine, it is important that to spend the time learning the knowledge and skills before they are needed.

If you have a screaming child on your hands, or if you just hit your head, or twisted your ankle, or if you have an injured animal at your side, the more information and the more rapidly that you can recall it, the faster you can bring relief. Thumbing through a book or reading the small print on a remedy package in a crisis wastes time and can be quite distressing.

With time and practice, you can learn how to treat a variety of accidents and injuries both quickly and efficiently using natural medicine. You will appreciate all the effort you have put in when you realize that you can help relieve pain in the injured – for yourself, your family and your friends and animals.