Being in charge of first aid for my project week group has made me think deeply about what my role is in our group. While it may seem that a medical emergency is highly unlikely and that a first aid representative is not all that necessary, the chance of someone needing medical assistance is still there.
Being put in charge of first aid has made me aware of the ethics surrounding my role. I have realized that every decision I make in a potential medical situation has heavy ethical implications. Is it ethical to allow a seventeen-year-old to be put in charge of the health of four other people, in an environment where assistance is unavailable? That is a question I have had to consider because although the first aid certificate I receive protects me legally, the ethical implications of my actions will still exist.
Deeming myself able enough to take on this responsibility was governed by my own ethics and interest in medicine. Helping other people comes naturally to me, but now I have to be able to keep calm and act with the proper course of action in an emergency situation. Therefore the decision I made to be the first aid person has many implications. Doing something wrong, even by mistake is not ethically right, therefore I must work to better my skills so that I’m best prepared when project week does come.
