Rescue Language: HSE Neurolinguists Master First Aid Skills

Staff members of the HSE Centre for Language and Brain have completed a 16-hour first aid course organised by the university's Occupational Safety and Health Office. Led by rescuer Pavel Grishchenkov, 27 participants got better acquainted with rescue procedures, learned how to help with injuries, respiratory arrest and bleeding, and practiced modern first aid methods.

First aid is rapid action that can save a person's life before paramedics arrive or the victim is taken to hospital. In cases of accidents, sudden attacks of illness, or poisoning, competent actions can be crucial.

‘It’s great when whole teams come for training. Usually, adults decide to learn first aid skills only after something has happened to them or their loved ones. However, it is much more important to popularise these courses in advance, making them part of the educational system. Learning helps not only to cope with serious conditions such as heart attacks, but also to avoid mistakes in everyday life. For example, improper handling of burns can lead to complications, and confusion in an emergency situation can have tragic consequences,’ says Pavel Grishchenkov.

The extensive 16-hour in-person course includes instruction on how to treat injuries, burns, hypothermia, frostbite, stroke, heart attack, epileptic seizure, and severe bleeding. The course culminated in a practical lesson during which the participants solved situational problems under realistic conditions.

‘I am certain that first aid skills are an essential part of the competencies of our centre's staff. We conduct research with patients (adults and children) with neurological problems and should always be prepared for a recurrent stroke, an epileptic seizure, and other life-threatening situations, even during simple behavioural testing. Moreover, such courses should be held regularly, because both knowledge and first aid skills need to be refreshed. This is the fifth time I have taken such a course myself. It's great that the university gives us this opportunity. We want to thank the Occupational Safety and Health Office for organising the course,’ said Olga Dragoy, Director of the HSE Centre for Language and Brain.

‘I didn't even realise how much I needed this first aid course. After two days of training, I began to feel more confident. Now I know how to behave if someone chokes or can’t breathe. However, the most important thing that I learned during the course was the idea that there is no “them”—there is only me, and my actions determine whether I can help myself, my loved ones, or someone who happens to be nearby. Now I always have gloves in my bag and a haemostatic tourniquet at home. However, I really hope that I will never need to apply the knowledge I learned during the course,’ said Maria Dyachkova, Research Assistant at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain.

‘This is not the first time I've taken first aid courses; my colleagues and I take such training every two or three years. Despite the fact that most of the information was not new to me, I had forgotten a lot since the last course. This information can be useful in an emergency situation and could save someone's life. I really liked the idea that in an emergency, a person shouldn’t have to make a choice, but rather follow a clear procedure of actions. And I hope that the more often we take such training, the better this procedure will be applied and memorised. I really hope that this information will never come in handy, and that if it does, I will keep my cool and be able to apply it,’ said Olga Buivolova, Research Fellow at the Centre for Language and Brain.

The university provides training to all faculty, and other HSE staff members can take the course if there are places available. The ability to provide first aid is not only a legal requirement, but also an important skill that could one day save someone's life.

Since January 2025, the 16-hour course has been approved by the Centre for Staff Continuing Professional Development. Teaching staff receive a certificate of advanced training at their primary place of employment at HSE University. Completing the course will be considered mandatory professional development for teaching staff.

The course participants also discussed complex ethical issues related to risks and responsibilities in first aid. People who have completed first aid courses are not required to provide assistance. However, they can be held accountable for incorrectly performed actions that cause harm to the victim. For example, an attempt to do an indirect heart massage can lead to rib fractures. Such cases are assessed individually, taking into account the context and consequences. But despite the risks, actions—even those that cause damage—often save lives.

The HSE Occupational Safety and Health Office conducts first aid courses for teaching staff every week. For the convenience of employees, training takes place in several formats: a 4-hour or 16-hour course held online or in person. Please follow the links (in Russian) to sign up for in-person or online training.

January 23