Lifestyle

6 Reasons Why First Aid Training Is Crucial

Published

4 years ago

June 14, 2021

While it is not a pleasant thought, the truth is that accidents are inevitable, and there is no guarantee that people are safe from injuries, traumas, and illnesses. The best thing you can do is to be prepared on how to handle them when they happen. Basic first aid training can be the difference between life and death. Read on to learn why basic first aid training is necessary.

1. It saves lives

Every day, hundreds of people are hurt or killed because of the lack of a quick and efficient first aid response. Basic first aid training and willingness to help is usually the difference between those who survive and those who don’t in an emergency. Typically, performing basic life support on victims while waiting for medical emergency personnel to arrive doubles their chances of survival. For instance, emergency resuscitation lessons can help you save a life before an ambulance arrives. While it’s common for people to rush to help an injured person, a person with basic first aid training is more confident, reliable, and in control of their actions while responding to a life-threatening situation.

2. Increase victim’s comfort

While not all illnesses, accidents, and injuries require a trip to a medical facility, most of them cause pain and suffering to the patient. A person with basic first aid training may be able to help in such cases. They know what to do to alleviate the pain and discomfort, at least temporarily. They will also be able to provide emotional support, which helps the victim to feel more secure and reduce their anxiety levels.

3. Prevent situations from worsening

Having basic first aid training can help to prevent emergency situations from deteriorating. For instance, if a victim has got a deep gash and bleeding profusely, they may suffer severe loss of blood without proper and prompt first aid response. This is where first aid training comes in handy — knowing simple procedures like applying the right amount of pressure can prevent the situation from worsening. More importantly, it enables you to stabilize the victim until emergency medical personnel arrive.

4. It can help you to convey important information

In the process of responding to an emergency and staying with the victim, you can gather critical information. You know how the victim got injured and their current situation. When the emergency medical team arrives, giving them such details would help them decide on the most appropriate treatment procedure and speed up the recovery process.

5. It promotes healthy living

If you have received basic first aid training, you understand how important it is to prioritize your safety, and by doing that, you are better placed to help victims. It also helps you to be always aware of potential safety and health hazards in your immediate environment.

6. A positive work environment

If you are an employer, having your employees trained on basic first aid is an excellent way to show them you care about their safety, which helps to create a positive work environment.

Endnote

Accidents happen when least expected, and sudden illnesses like stroke, severe loss of blood, and heart attack, require immediate and efficient medical intervention. Basic first aid knowledge can help you save a life, increase the victim’s comfort and prevent a situation from becoming worse.

Lifestyle

Confronting Propaganda: Street Smart Documents Honest Reactions to Gaza Indoctrination Footage

Published

2 days ago

November 6, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Courtesy of: Street Smart

Byline: Michelle Langton

In a recent project, the Street Smart team gathered 20 strangers and presented them with propaganda footage from Gaza that has circulated widely online but remains largely unfamiliar to many audiences. The aim wasn’t to provoke outrage or test media literacy in a classroom setting. It was to capture raw, unfiltered emotional reactions to material that reveals how narratives are formed at the source. The resulting video offers a candid look at how people process shocking content and how their perceptions shift when they see what is rarely shown on mainstream platforms.

The Structure of the Experiment

The format was simple. Participants were seated and shown a series of clips from Gaza, including children’s programming and broadcasts containing intense ideological messaging. No background information was provided, and viewers were not instructed on how to interpret what they were seeing. After watching, they were asked for immediate reactions.

The footage elicited a wide range of emotions. Some viewers were stunned by the content, admitting they had never seen anything like it before. Others expressed disbelief, questioning why this kind of material isn’t more widely discussed. A few were visibly shaken, saying the experience fundamentally altered their understanding of the situation.

By presenting the footage without narration or added commentary, Street Smart allowed participants’ genuine responses to emerge. The experiment revealed how propaganda can affect an entire generation. It can shock, unsettle, and force people to reconsider their assumptions.

Why This Project Matters

Sage Fox and Dorani aligned the purpose of this experiment with Street Smart’s broader mission of challenging prevailing narratives and encouraging critical thought among younger audiences. In an environment where footage spreads rapidly across digital platforms, propaganda can shape public opinion long before context catches up.

By showing the Gaza Indoctrination footage in a controlled setting and recording uncoached responses, the team aimed to expose the emotional and cognitive impact of this type of content.

“The first reaction is often the most revealing, because it shows how powerful images can be without context.”

The Range of Reactions

While each participant brought their own perspective, several themes emerged. Some expressed sympathy with the imagery itself, saying it was emotionally powerful.

One participant said, “It makes me question what I see online every day. How much of it is shaped this way?”

Their comments highlight how propaganda resonates differently depending on prior knowledge and exposure. Many viewers have simply never encountered such footage directly.

Street Smart’s Approach

This project continues a pattern established by Sage Fox & Dorani’s earlier videos. Rather than relying on experts or lengthy analysis, Street Smart focuses on real people and their honest reactions. The approach is simple but effective. Present potent material, listen to what people say, and share those moments with a wider audience.

The Gaza Indoctrination footage experiment fits this model. It doesn’t attempt to draw final conclusions or offer political commentary. Instead, it documents how people respond when they’re exposed to narratives that are usually filtered through intermediaries.

Implications for Media Literacy

Beyond its viral potential, the video raises broader questions about how people interact with powerful imagery online. Propaganda operates on emotional reflexes. As this experiment shows, those reflexes are often unexamined until they’re brought to the surface.

Sage Fox & Dorani hope that projects like this push audiences to think more critically about what they see and share.

“The purpose is not to tell people what to believe. It is to remind them that every image comes from somewhere, and that source matters,” they said.

Next Steps for Street Smart

As Street Smart’s platform grows, Sage Fox & Dorani plan to conduct similar experiments in different contexts. They intend to use their direct, street-level approach to highlight how people react when presented with challenging material.

The Gaza footage project is one piece of a larger mission. The team uses simple methods to shed light on complex issues. By focusing on authentic reactions, they continue to build a unique space in online media that blends cultural investigation with raw human response.

A Window into Unfiltered Thought

“We showed 20 strangers real propaganda footage from Gaza — and filmed their unfiltered reactions” is not a dramatic exposé or academic study. It is a clear, unmediated record of how individuals respond when confronted with material designed to persuade. In that restraint lies its strength.

By documenting these moments, Street Smart shows how awareness can begin with a pause. A brief space between seeing and believing.