Provide a short, inviting sentence to compliment your service title (above) which stimulates a viewer to either click or scroll.
Provide a proactive description of the service in question. Touch on some of the problems that would drive a customer to the service. Also, detail some of the benefits of getting it done.
You could include a short sentence here to further back up your compelling statement above (optional).
Above, you could opt to include a leading title highlighting why customers should choose your company (or you can leave as is).
In this area, describe your unique values, overall attention to detail and how your processes make you stand out from others.
You could include a short sentence here to further back up your compelling statement above (optional).
Above, you could opt to include a leading title of your approach to work, detailing your procedures' uniqueness (or you can leave as is).
In this area, you should talk about what happens before, during and after service delivery. Include information like how people can get in touch, who will attend on the day (and the quality of service they will deliver) and what after-sales support is provided if any.
"***** was very particularly grateful for the excellent training as she was at her niece’s baby shower yesterday (who is 36 weeks pregnant) and she was opening her gifts when all of a sudden she started spasming and had an epileptic fit.
She felt confident enough to assist the other ladies there, keeping her safe and protected and remembering to then lay her down in the recovery position on her left side and call the ambulance etc.
She doesn’t have epilepsy but has been since told that it can happen in pregnancy (it lasted about 3 mins). Such vital things that you taught us, already been put into practice."
Felt like I've really refreshed my knowledge
I would definitely recommend this course
You could include a short sentence here to further back up your compelling statement above (optional).
Above, you could opt to include a leading title which triggers customers to buy your product/service or get in touch with you (or you can leave as is).
In this area, you should describe what may drive someone to use this service. Also, deal with handling any objections you may expect in this write-up.
*For ease you can expand on the problems and the objections/roadblocks featured on this page.
Check out the latest statement from the HSE
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is aware that people holding Offshore Medic (OM), Offshore First Aid (OFA), First Aid at Work (FAW) or Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificates nearing expiry date, might experience disruption to access to requalification training as a result of events or circumstances generated by the coronavirus pandemic.
HSE’s current guidance on the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l74.pdf and the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (First-Aid) Regulations 1989 https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l123.pdf is that those holding an OM, OFA, FAW or EFAW qualification should undertake retraining before their original certificate expires and HSE strongly recommends that employers, and individuals holding those qualifications should plan for requalification training well in advance of expiry dates.
If however requalification training is prevented for reasons associated directly with coronavirus or by complying with related government advice, it is reasonable and practical to extend the validity of current certificates by up to 3 months. Anyone taking advantage of this extension should be able to describe clearly their reasons for delaying requalification training, and demonstrate steps they have taken to undertake the training, if required.
This guidance comes into effect for certificates expiring on or after 16th March 2020. HSE will review this matter over the coming months and will issue further statements as necessary.
The Department for Education supports the HSE statement regarding the extension of first aid certificates during coronavirus emergency and that it can be applied to paediatric first aid certificates held by staff in early years provision.
Here at Safety First our client safety is our first priority. With the recent pandemic still in existence we will be doing our best to minimise any risk to our clients. Prior to attending the course we are asking people to read and sign our waiver. For further information please download it here.
The spread of Covid 19 is a real concern when accessing training, but first aid skills need to be seen and assessed face to face. Here at Safety First we will be doing all we can to minimise the risk of transmission including:
A risk waiver must be signed before attending training. Anyone with symptoms will not be able to participate in training.
Please get in touch if you would like further guidance.
A normal temperature range is anywhere between 36.4 – 37.5 degrees. This does vary slightly depending on where the temperature is taken.
You could consider giving your child some calpol if their temperature goes above 38 degrees.
Children under the age of 5 are at risk of a fit as a result of a rapidly rising temperature so make sure you keep an eye on their temperature when they are unwell.
There are a couple of ways to introduce food to your baby. One is to use purées which you increase in texture as they get used to it. The other is baby led weaning.
If you choose baby led weaning when offering veg sticks such as carrots be prepared to par boil them so they are a bit softer. Also make sure they are cut to a size where choking risk is reduced.
Most importantly watch your baby at all times and educate yourself on how to manage choking.
It can be hard to know when to see a Dr and children have lots of illnesses in their early years.
NHS Choices has lot of useful info, please check out my top tips below:
You know your child better than anyone so if you are worried seek advice.
Covid 19 has had an impact on everyone and people are understandably concerned about doing first aid courses at this time. Has the way in which we assess the practical skills changed? Do we still assess rescue breaths? Yes we do assess rescue breaths in accordance with the requirements of the Awarding Body, Qualsafe. Every effort is taken to ensure we protect from the risk of covid 19 as far as possible. We complete a risk assessment on arrival and then provide with appropriate equipment to reduce the risk further.
When we approach an unresponsive casualty we check for danger in the first instance, followed by response – to see if they are conscious. Then we open their airway and check for normal breathing. This is really important as 50% of adults in cardiac arrest will demonstrate agonal breathing. When assessing breathing, how many breaths is normal in an adult in a minute – 12 – 20 breaths. This would mean you would see at least 2 in a 10 second period. For more information, get in touch
The blended paediatric first aid course is perfect for anyone working in the Early Years sector. It is suitable for nursery nurses, childminders, nannies and many more.
Complete the online part at your leisure then come to the face to face day to practise your skills.
As a result of the recent covid 19 pandemic there is a requirement for candidates to wear face masks when carrying out the practical assessments on the course, these will also need to be worn when moving around the room during breaks and to use the toilet facilities.
In terms of sanitising hands, all facilites we use will have access to handwashing facilities. Hand sanitiser will be provided for use before and after carrying out a practical skill.
We will do our best to minimise the risk of covid 19 while you attend our courses. If someone is taken ill prior to attending one of our open courses please do get in touch and we will offer a free transfer to another course.
We offer a range of different courses online, many of which are great for your professional development as they are CPD accredited. We also have a parent first aid course which is available online which is for information purposes to give parents some basic knowledge of how to cope in the event of an emergency.
For a certified first aid course such as:
to be meet the requirements of the health and safety executive, Ofsted, the varying awarding bodies and any other relevant bodies there needs to be an assessment of the skills needed to be a first aider. This includes things such as
This means that a proportion of the training will need be delivered and assessed face to face.
We offer blended learning which is part online and part face to face.
First aid kits that are “HSE Approved” are green with a white cross. These should be in an easily accessible place with the record book. Staff should be made aware of their location.
You can add things to your first aid kit that you consider relevant to your work place.
For a list of the contents of a first aid kit follow this link
Remember to check your first aid kits regularly as things do expire, and make sure you keep them stocked up when they have been used.
Calling for help in the event of an emergency is a critical part of first aid.
First Aid is the initial helping behaviours when someone is taken ill or injured before professional help arrives so it is crucial to get that help on its way.
In the event of an emergency dial 999 or 112, although there are other ways to get help if you need it.
Information you need to share:
If you are unsure what to do they can talk you through how to cope in an emergency.
A baby is anyone up to the age of 12 months or a year.
A child is anyone between the ages of 1 and 18 (Resus Council 2022). This becomes relevant when you are carrying out the primary survey, doing CPR and also dealing with choking. Children are more likely to have a hypoxic or respiratory arrest.
How would I recognise if someone is having a stroke?
If someone is having a stroke there is a test you can do:
F – does their face drop on one side? Do they find it hard to smile?
A – can they lift both arms and keep them there?
S – is their speech slurred or does it make little sense?
T – if you see any of the above it is time to call 📞 999
if someone is having a stroke it is important to act quickly, the faster you get help the better their recovery will be.
There are a number of different types of seizure, if someone has a complex seizure or a tonic clonic seizure they will call to the ground or be on the ground jerking and twitching. They will not respond to you and you may see their eyes roll back.
When they are having a seizure:
Whrn they come round put them in the recovery position or keep them sitting down until they are alert. Check them for any injuries
You should call an ambulance if:
on a course the other day a teacher asked how do you stop a nose bleed because at a recent event people had different ideas of what to do.
The Answer:
If someone is having a nose bleed, the position to put them in is with their head forward and pinch their nose infront of the bony part. Hold this for 10 minutes and check for further bleeding. If it persists you can try this up to 3 times. If it still persists call an ambulance. Look at the state of the casualty also, if they are really pale and dizzy call an ambulance a bit sooner.
Get the person to spit any blood out that may be in their mouth and be mindful it can run down the back of the throat during a nose bleed.
Avoid blowing or picking the nose afterwards and encourage the casualty to breathe through their mouth.
WillI get sued for doing first aid on a member of the public? This question has been asked on many first aid courses. Fear of getting sued is one of the reasons why people are likely not to do first aid on a member of the public, in 2015 SARAH was brought in. This stands for Social Action Responsibilities and Heroism. It was introduced to help protect members of the public from litigation / getting sued. First aid is vital part of life saving and so stepping into assist when a person is in trouble is really important. If you are genuinely trying to help it is unlikely you will get in trouble. Doing a first aid course is one way to gain skills and knowledge to use in an emergency.
I was asked on a course the other day how to be certain to give an epi pen. The answer is that anaphylaxis can be a rapidly developing condition and ultimately it can be fatal. My answer was that if in doubt give the epi pen. It is better for someone to have their medication and not need it than not have it when they need it. Even if it is not needed at that point in time the person will not come to any harm.
To find out more book onto an anaphylaxis update or first aid course.
An adrenaline auto injector contains a life saving injection of adrenaline which needs to be administered if someone is having a severe allergic reaction. Depending on the type of reaction it can develop really quickly and cause someone to become very ill very quickly. If you are with someone who you know suffers from a reaction and you feel it is appropriate for the injection to be administered it is better for them to have the injection when they need it than not to receive it.
We produce adrenaline naturally so the worst that will happen if they receive it when it is not needed is that they will feel light headed. It tends to have a short half life so will leave the system fairly quickly.
Here at Safety First we do our best to keep our courses as safe as possible. At this time we will be taking the following precautions to minimise risk:
We want our sessions to be informative and practical while maintaining your safety.
If you have any further questions please ask on booking.
Your safety is our priority
One question that often comes up on a first aid course is if it is okay to use an ice pack on a head injury and the answer is, yes you can if there is a lump on the head this is fine. Do not use something straight from the freezer without wrapping it first.
If your setting says you can’t then follow their policy as this is what will give you insurance for doing first aid
It is good to carry some first aid supplies with you in case your child gets hurt when they are out and about. You don’t need to have any spray plasters or special wound cleaning spray which cost money. If you want to carry anything with you some plasters, gauze and maybe some wound wipes will be useful to have with you.
At home you might have some paracetamol suspension, a decent well reviewed thermometer and some plasters. There is no need to buy germolene or savlon as tap water is enough to clean a wound.
If someone has blood coming out of their mouth it can be difficult to do much about it and it should stop fairly quickly. Pay attention to their oral hygiene.
If they are bleeding from a cut on their face / lip / chin which you can see apply pressure to the area with some gauze for a few minutes to see if it stops. Once you have controlled the bleeding check to see if the wound needs closing, you may need to visit an urgent care centre.
If your child has knocked their teeth out or they are bruised take them to an emergency dentist.
As always if you are worried about your child in anyway seek medical advice.
Falls from windows are a real risk to small children. To find out more about how to secure your windows check out this video from the child accident prevention trust which shows how you can keep windows secure from small children without applying bars to the windows.
I have looked over numerous children and young people over the years with Diabetes and one things I have noticed is that when they come in really sick prior to diagnosis their parents often don't know the signs. This resource gives a bit more information on what type 1 diabetes is. This video from Diabetes UK is worth a watch
Most children will at some point have a vomiting bug. This can feel quite stressful as a parent and it can be hard to know what to do. The most important thing is to ensure they remain hydrated. They will be unlikely to want to eat anything and this is not too much of a concern for a day or two. Getting fluid into them is your priority.
If they are vomiting it is important to offer them small amounts of fluid every few minutes, 5 – 10ml as appropriate. Avoid letting them take in large amounts of fluid in one go. If they can’t tolerate this then it is time to seek advice.
Other things of concern might be:
If you are concerned about your child seek advice.
An AED is used to restart the heart of a person who is in cardiac arrest.
75% of adults who collapse and stop breathing will be in a shockable rhythm. Prompt use of an AED will increase their chances of survival significantly.
Use of the AED is covered and assessed on all courses. Early use of an AED is key to the survival of adults in cardiac arrest. The more people we can educate to use AEDs the better.
Want to know more why not book a course now?
An AED is a device that can be used to restart the heart when someone has gone into cardiac arrest, collapsed and stopped breathing. We teach how they are used on every single course. Knowing where your nearest one is could save someone’s life.
AEDs can be found in supermarkets, train stations, dentists, schools and a variety of other places. Why not have a look next time you are out and about? We found one in a local high street recently (see picture).
To find out more about how to use an AED book a first aid course today
Choking is most parents fear and rightly so as it is a big risk in children under the age of 5. Babies and small children often gag when eating food, but this does not mean that they are choking. If you can hear them making a noise then there is no need to intervene. Watch and see if they manage to clear their airway.
Choking is silent regardless of the age of the person. In addition people will go pale, even blue and look really startled.
The best thing to do is to try and prevent it happening in the first place.
To find out more or to book onto a first aid course please get in touch
CPR practical assessment is a really important part of every first aid course. When it comes to CPR or Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation the aim is to take over the function of the heart and keep the brain perfused with oxygen.
It is important to be confident in the assessment of the casualty. So when do you need to do CPR? The simple answer is when the person is not breathing or not breathing normally, and this is something we always discuss on our courses. Firstly how do you assess whether someone is breathing and secondly what “agonal” gasps are. To find out more why not book a course today?
Check out the latest statement from the HSE
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is aware that people holding Offshore Medic (OM), Offshore First Aid (OFA), First Aid at Work (FAW) or Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificates nearing expiry date, might experience disruption to access to requalification training as a result of events or circumstances generated by the coronavirus pandemic.
HSE’s current guidance on the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l74.pdf and the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (First-Aid) Regulations 1989 https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l123.pdf is that those holding an OM, OFA, FAW or EFAW qualification should undertake retraining before their original certificate expires and HSE strongly recommends that employers, and individuals holding those qualifications should plan for requalification training well in advance of expiry dates.
If however requalification training is prevented for reasons associated directly with coronavirus or by complying with related government advice, it is reasonable and practical to extend the validity of current certificates by up to 3 months. Anyone taking advantage of this extension should be able to describe clearly their reasons for delaying requalification training, and demonstrate steps they have taken to undertake the training, if required.
This guidance comes into effect for certificates expiring on or after 16th March 2020. HSE will review this matter over the coming months and will issue further statements as necessary.
The Department for Education supports the HSE statement regarding the extension of first aid certificates during coronavirus emergency and that it can be applied to paediatric first aid certificates held by staff in early years provision.
Here at Safety First our client safety is our first priority. With the recent pandemic still in existence we will be doing our best to minimise any risk to our clients. Prior to attending the course we are asking people to read and sign our waiver. For further information please download it here.
The spread of Covid 19 is a real concern when accessing training, but first aid skills need to be seen and assessed face to face. Here at Safety First we will be doing all we can to minimise the risk of transmission including:
A risk waiver must be signed before attending training. Anyone with symptoms will not be able to participate in training.
Please get in touch if you would like further guidance.
A normal temperature range is anywhere between 36.4 – 37.5 degrees. This does vary slightly depending on where the temperature is taken.
You could consider giving your child some calpol if their temperature goes above 38 degrees.
Children under the age of 5 are at risk of a fit as a result of a rapidly rising temperature so make sure you keep an eye on their temperature when they are unwell.
There are a couple of ways to introduce food to your baby. One is to use purées which you increase in texture as they get used to it. The other is baby led weaning.
If you choose baby led weaning when offering veg sticks such as carrots be prepared to par boil them so they are a bit softer. Also make sure they are cut to a size where choking risk is reduced.
Most importantly watch your baby at all times and educate yourself on how to manage choking.
It can be hard to know when to see a Dr and children have lots of illnesses in their early years.
NHS Choices has lot of useful info, please check out my top tips below:
You know your child better than anyone so if you are worried seek advice.
Covid 19 has had an impact on everyone and people are understandably concerned about doing first aid courses at this time. Has the way in which we assess the practical skills changed? Do we still assess rescue breaths? Yes we do assess rescue breaths in accordance with the requirements of the Awarding Body, Qualsafe. Every effort is taken to ensure we protect from the risk of covid 19 as far as possible. We complete a risk assessment on arrival and then provide with appropriate equipment to reduce the risk further.
When we approach an unresponsive casualty we check for danger in the first instance, followed by response – to see if they are conscious. Then we open their airway and check for normal breathing. This is really important as 50% of adults in cardiac arrest will demonstrate agonal breathing. When assessing breathing, how many breaths is normal in an adult in a minute – 12 – 20 breaths. This would mean you would see at least 2 in a 10 second period. For more information, get in touch
The blended paediatric first aid course is perfect for anyone working in the Early Years sector. It is suitable for nursery nurses, childminders, nannies and many more.
Complete the online part at your leisure then come to the face to face day to practise your skills.
As a result of the recent covid 19 pandemic there is a requirement for candidates to wear face masks when carrying out the practical assessments on the course, these will also need to be worn when moving around the room during breaks and to use the toilet facilities.
In terms of sanitising hands, all facilites we use will have access to handwashing facilities. Hand sanitiser will be provided for use before and after carrying out a practical skill.
We will do our best to minimise the risk of covid 19 while you attend our courses. If someone is taken ill prior to attending one of our open courses please do get in touch and we will offer a free transfer to another course.
We offer a range of different courses online, many of which are great for your professional development as they are CPD accredited. We also have a parent first aid course which is available online which is for information purposes to give parents some basic knowledge of how to cope in the event of an emergency.
For a certified first aid course such as:
to be meet the requirements of the health and safety executive, Ofsted, the varying awarding bodies and any other relevant bodies there needs to be an assessment of the skills needed to be a first aider. This includes things such as
This means that a proportion of the training will need be delivered and assessed face to face.
We offer blended learning which is part online and part face to face.
First aid kits that are “HSE Approved” are green with a white cross. These should be in an easily accessible place with the record book. Staff should be made aware of their location.
You can add things to your first aid kit that you consider relevant to your work place.
For a list of the contents of a first aid kit follow this link
Remember to check your first aid kits regularly as things do expire, and make sure you keep them stocked up when they have been used.
Calling for help in the event of an emergency is a critical part of first aid.
First Aid is the initial helping behaviours when someone is taken ill or injured before professional help arrives so it is crucial to get that help on its way.
In the event of an emergency dial 999 or 112, although there are other ways to get help if you need it.
Information you need to share:
If you are unsure what to do they can talk you through how to cope in an emergency.
A baby is anyone up to the age of 12 months or a year.
A child is anyone between the ages of 1 and 18 (Resus Council 2022). This becomes relevant when you are carrying out the primary survey, doing CPR and also dealing with choking. Children are more likely to have a hypoxic or respiratory arrest.
How would I recognise if someone is having a stroke?
If someone is having a stroke there is a test you can do:
F – does their face drop on one side? Do they find it hard to smile?
A – can they lift both arms and keep them there?
S – is their speech slurred or does it make little sense?
T – if you see any of the above it is time to call 📞 999
if someone is having a stroke it is important to act quickly, the faster you get help the better their recovery will be.
There are a number of different types of seizure, if someone has a complex seizure or a tonic clonic seizure they will call to the ground or be on the ground jerking and twitching. They will not respond to you and you may see their eyes roll back.
When they are having a seizure:
Whrn they come round put them in the recovery position or keep them sitting down until they are alert. Check them for any injuries
You should call an ambulance if:
on a course the other day a teacher asked how do you stop a nose bleed because at a recent event people had different ideas of what to do.
The Answer:
If someone is having a nose bleed, the position to put them in is with their head forward and pinch their nose infront of the bony part. Hold this for 10 minutes and check for further bleeding. If it persists you can try this up to 3 times. If it still persists call an ambulance. Look at the state of the casualty also, if they are really pale and dizzy call an ambulance a bit sooner.
Get the person to spit any blood out that may be in their mouth and be mindful it can run down the back of the throat during a nose bleed.
Avoid blowing or picking the nose afterwards and encourage the casualty to breathe through their mouth.
WillI get sued for doing first aid on a member of the public? This question has been asked on many first aid courses. Fear of getting sued is one of the reasons why people are likely not to do first aid on a member of the public, in 2015 SARAH was brought in. This stands for Social Action Responsibilities and Heroism. It was introduced to help protect members of the public from litigation / getting sued. First aid is vital part of life saving and so stepping into assist when a person is in trouble is really important. If you are genuinely trying to help it is unlikely you will get in trouble. Doing a first aid course is one way to gain skills and knowledge to use in an emergency.
I was asked on a course the other day how to be certain to give an epi pen. The answer is that anaphylaxis can be a rapidly developing condition and ultimately it can be fatal. My answer was that if in doubt give the epi pen. It is better for someone to have their medication and not need it than not have it when they need it. Even if it is not needed at that point in time the person will not come to any harm.
To find out more book onto an anaphylaxis update or first aid course.
An adrenaline auto injector contains a life saving injection of adrenaline which needs to be administered if someone is having a severe allergic reaction. Depending on the type of reaction it can develop really quickly and cause someone to become very ill very quickly. If you are with someone who you know suffers from a reaction and you feel it is appropriate for the injection to be administered it is better for them to have the injection when they need it than not to receive it.
We produce adrenaline naturally so the worst that will happen if they receive it when it is not needed is that they will feel light headed. It tends to have a short half life so will leave the system fairly quickly.
Here at Safety First we do our best to keep our courses as safe as possible. At this time we will be taking the following precautions to minimise risk:
We want our sessions to be informative and practical while maintaining your safety.
If you have any further questions please ask on booking.
Your safety is our priority
One question that often comes up on a first aid course is if it is okay to use an ice pack on a head injury and the answer is, yes you can if there is a lump on the head this is fine. Do not use something straight from the freezer without wrapping it first.
If your setting says you can’t then follow their policy as this is what will give you insurance for doing first aid
It is good to carry some first aid supplies with you in case your child gets hurt when they are out and about. You don’t need to have any spray plasters or special wound cleaning spray which cost money. If you want to carry anything with you some plasters, gauze and maybe some wound wipes will be useful to have with you.
At home you might have some paracetamol suspension, a decent well reviewed thermometer and some plasters. There is no need to buy germolene or savlon as tap water is enough to clean a wound.
If someone has blood coming out of their mouth it can be difficult to do much about it and it should stop fairly quickly. Pay attention to their oral hygiene.
If they are bleeding from a cut on their face / lip / chin which you can see apply pressure to the area with some gauze for a few minutes to see if it stops. Once you have controlled the bleeding check to see if the wound needs closing, you may need to visit an urgent care centre.
If your child has knocked their teeth out or they are bruised take them to an emergency dentist.
As always if you are worried about your child in anyway seek medical advice.
Falls from windows are a real risk to small children. To find out more about how to secure your windows check out this video from the child accident prevention trust which shows how you can keep windows secure from small children without applying bars to the windows.
I have looked over numerous children and young people over the years with Diabetes and one things I have noticed is that when they come in really sick prior to diagnosis their parents often don't know the signs. This resource gives a bit more information on what type 1 diabetes is. This video from Diabetes UK is worth a watch
Most children will at some point have a vomiting bug. This can feel quite stressful as a parent and it can be hard to know what to do. The most important thing is to ensure they remain hydrated. They will be unlikely to want to eat anything and this is not too much of a concern for a day or two. Getting fluid into them is your priority.
If they are vomiting it is important to offer them small amounts of fluid every few minutes, 5 – 10ml as appropriate. Avoid letting them take in large amounts of fluid in one go. If they can’t tolerate this then it is time to seek advice.
Other things of concern might be:
If you are concerned about your child seek advice.
An AED is used to restart the heart of a person who is in cardiac arrest.
75% of adults who collapse and stop breathing will be in a shockable rhythm. Prompt use of an AED will increase their chances of survival significantly.
Use of the AED is covered and assessed on all courses. Early use of an AED is key to the survival of adults in cardiac arrest. The more people we can educate to use AEDs the better.
Want to know more why not book a course now?
An AED is a device that can be used to restart the heart when someone has gone into cardiac arrest, collapsed and stopped breathing. We teach how they are used on every single course. Knowing where your nearest one is could save someone’s life.
AEDs can be found in supermarkets, train stations, dentists, schools and a variety of other places. Why not have a look next time you are out and about? We found one in a local high street recently (see picture).
To find out more about how to use an AED book a first aid course today
Choking is most parents fear and rightly so as it is a big risk in children under the age of 5. Babies and small children often gag when eating food, but this does not mean that they are choking. If you can hear them making a noise then there is no need to intervene. Watch and see if they manage to clear their airway.
Choking is silent regardless of the age of the person. In addition people will go pale, even blue and look really startled.
The best thing to do is to try and prevent it happening in the first place.
To find out more or to book onto a first aid course please get in touch
CPR practical assessment is a really important part of every first aid course. When it comes to CPR or Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation the aim is to take over the function of the heart and keep the brain perfused with oxygen.
It is important to be confident in the assessment of the casualty. So when do you need to do CPR? The simple answer is when the person is not breathing or not breathing normally, and this is something we always discuss on our courses. Firstly how do you assess whether someone is breathing and secondly what “agonal” gasps are. To find out more why not book a course today?
You could include a short sentence here to further back up your compelling statement above (optional).
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam tempor laoreet mi, sed ultricies urna viverra vitae. Nullam congue nisl sed sapien ultricies consequat.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam tempor laoreet mi, sed ultricies urna viverra vitae. Nullam congue nisl sed sapien ultricies consequat.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam tempor laoreet mi, sed ultricies urna viverra vitae. Nullam congue nisl sed sapien ultricies consequat.
Above, you could opt to include a leading title which encourages the prospect/site visitor to take action.
In this area, you should go into why a prospective buyer must immediately ensure they receive your product/service.
Check out the latest statement from the HSE
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is aware that people holding Offshore Medic (OM), Offshore First Aid (OFA), First Aid at Work (FAW) or Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificates nearing expiry date, might experience disruption to access to requalification training as a result of events or circumstances generated by the coronavirus pandemic.
HSE’s current guidance on the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l74.pdf and the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (First-Aid) Regulations 1989 https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l123.pdf is that those holding an OM, OFA, FAW or EFAW qualification should undertake retraining before their original certificate expires and HSE strongly recommends that employers, and individuals holding those qualifications should plan for requalification training well in advance of expiry dates.
If however requalification training is prevented for reasons associated directly with coronavirus or by complying with related government advice, it is reasonable and practical to extend the validity of current certificates by up to 3 months. Anyone taking advantage of this extension should be able to describe clearly their reasons for delaying requalification training, and demonstrate steps they have taken to undertake the training, if required.
This guidance comes into effect for certificates expiring on or after 16th March 2020. HSE will review this matter over the coming months and will issue further statements as necessary.
The Department for Education supports the HSE statement regarding the extension of first aid certificates during coronavirus emergency and that it can be applied to paediatric first aid certificates held by staff in early years provision.
Here at Safety First our client safety is our first priority. With the recent pandemic still in existence we will be doing our best to minimise any risk to our clients. Prior to attending the course we are asking people to read and sign our waiver. For further information please download it here.
The spread of Covid 19 is a real concern when accessing training, but first aid skills need to be seen and assessed face to face. Here at Safety First we will be doing all we can to minimise the risk of transmission including:
A risk waiver must be signed before attending training. Anyone with symptoms will not be able to participate in training.
Please get in touch if you would like further guidance.
A normal temperature range is anywhere between 36.4 – 37.5 degrees. This does vary slightly depending on where the temperature is taken.
You could consider giving your child some calpol if their temperature goes above 38 degrees.
Children under the age of 5 are at risk of a fit as a result of a rapidly rising temperature so make sure you keep an eye on their temperature when they are unwell.
There are a couple of ways to introduce food to your baby. One is to use purées which you increase in texture as they get used to it. The other is baby led weaning.
If you choose baby led weaning when offering veg sticks such as carrots be prepared to par boil them so they are a bit softer. Also make sure they are cut to a size where choking risk is reduced.
Most importantly watch your baby at all times and educate yourself on how to manage choking.
It can be hard to know when to see a Dr and children have lots of illnesses in their early years.
NHS Choices has lot of useful info, please check out my top tips below:
You know your child better than anyone so if you are worried seek advice.
Covid 19 has had an impact on everyone and people are understandably concerned about doing first aid courses at this time. Has the way in which we assess the practical skills changed? Do we still assess rescue breaths? Yes we do assess rescue breaths in accordance with the requirements of the Awarding Body, Qualsafe. Every effort is taken to ensure we protect from the risk of covid 19 as far as possible. We complete a risk assessment on arrival and then provide with appropriate equipment to reduce the risk further.
When we approach an unresponsive casualty we check for danger in the first instance, followed by response – to see if they are conscious. Then we open their airway and check for normal breathing. This is really important as 50% of adults in cardiac arrest will demonstrate agonal breathing. When assessing breathing, how many breaths is normal in an adult in a minute – 12 – 20 breaths. This would mean you would see at least 2 in a 10 second period. For more information, get in touch
The blended paediatric first aid course is perfect for anyone working in the Early Years sector. It is suitable for nursery nurses, childminders, nannies and many more.
Complete the online part at your leisure then come to the face to face day to practise your skills.
As a result of the recent covid 19 pandemic there is a requirement for candidates to wear face masks when carrying out the practical assessments on the course, these will also need to be worn when moving around the room during breaks and to use the toilet facilities.
In terms of sanitising hands, all facilites we use will have access to handwashing facilities. Hand sanitiser will be provided for use before and after carrying out a practical skill.
We will do our best to minimise the risk of covid 19 while you attend our courses. If someone is taken ill prior to attending one of our open courses please do get in touch and we will offer a free transfer to another course.
We offer a range of different courses online, many of which are great for your professional development as they are CPD accredited. We also have a parent first aid course which is available online which is for information purposes to give parents some basic knowledge of how to cope in the event of an emergency.
For a certified first aid course such as:
to be meet the requirements of the health and safety executive, Ofsted, the varying awarding bodies and any other relevant bodies there needs to be an assessment of the skills needed to be a first aider. This includes things such as
This means that a proportion of the training will need be delivered and assessed face to face.
We offer blended learning which is part online and part face to face.
First aid kits that are “HSE Approved” are green with a white cross. These should be in an easily accessible place with the record book. Staff should be made aware of their location.
You can add things to your first aid kit that you consider relevant to your work place.
For a list of the contents of a first aid kit follow this link
Remember to check your first aid kits regularly as things do expire, and make sure you keep them stocked up when they have been used.
Calling for help in the event of an emergency is a critical part of first aid.
First Aid is the initial helping behaviours when someone is taken ill or injured before professional help arrives so it is crucial to get that help on its way.
In the event of an emergency dial 999 or 112, although there are other ways to get help if you need it.
Information you need to share:
If you are unsure what to do they can talk you through how to cope in an emergency.
A baby is anyone up to the age of 12 months or a year.
A child is anyone between the ages of 1 and 18 (Resus Council 2022). This becomes relevant when you are carrying out the primary survey, doing CPR and also dealing with choking. Children are more likely to have a hypoxic or respiratory arrest.
How would I recognise if someone is having a stroke?
If someone is having a stroke there is a test you can do:
F – does their face drop on one side? Do they find it hard to smile?
A – can they lift both arms and keep them there?
S – is their speech slurred or does it make little sense?
T – if you see any of the above it is time to call 📞 999
if someone is having a stroke it is important to act quickly, the faster you get help the better their recovery will be.
There are a number of different types of seizure, if someone has a complex seizure or a tonic clonic seizure they will call to the ground or be on the ground jerking and twitching. They will not respond to you and you may see their eyes roll back.
When they are having a seizure:
Whrn they come round put them in the recovery position or keep them sitting down until they are alert. Check them for any injuries
You should call an ambulance if:
on a course the other day a teacher asked how do you stop a nose bleed because at a recent event people had different ideas of what to do.
The Answer:
If someone is having a nose bleed, the position to put them in is with their head forward and pinch their nose infront of the bony part. Hold this for 10 minutes and check for further bleeding. If it persists you can try this up to 3 times. If it still persists call an ambulance. Look at the state of the casualty also, if they are really pale and dizzy call an ambulance a bit sooner.
Get the person to spit any blood out that may be in their mouth and be mindful it can run down the back of the throat during a nose bleed.
Avoid blowing or picking the nose afterwards and encourage the casualty to breathe through their mouth.
WillI get sued for doing first aid on a member of the public? This question has been asked on many first aid courses. Fear of getting sued is one of the reasons why people are likely not to do first aid on a member of the public, in 2015 SARAH was brought in. This stands for Social Action Responsibilities and Heroism. It was introduced to help protect members of the public from litigation / getting sued. First aid is vital part of life saving and so stepping into assist when a person is in trouble is really important. If you are genuinely trying to help it is unlikely you will get in trouble. Doing a first aid course is one way to gain skills and knowledge to use in an emergency.
I was asked on a course the other day how to be certain to give an epi pen. The answer is that anaphylaxis can be a rapidly developing condition and ultimately it can be fatal. My answer was that if in doubt give the epi pen. It is better for someone to have their medication and not need it than not have it when they need it. Even if it is not needed at that point in time the person will not come to any harm.
To find out more book onto an anaphylaxis update or first aid course.
An adrenaline auto injector contains a life saving injection of adrenaline which needs to be administered if someone is having a severe allergic reaction. Depending on the type of reaction it can develop really quickly and cause someone to become very ill very quickly. If you are with someone who you know suffers from a reaction and you feel it is appropriate for the injection to be administered it is better for them to have the injection when they need it than not to receive it.
We produce adrenaline naturally so the worst that will happen if they receive it when it is not needed is that they will feel light headed. It tends to have a short half life so will leave the system fairly quickly.
Here at Safety First we do our best to keep our courses as safe as possible. At this time we will be taking the following precautions to minimise risk:
We want our sessions to be informative and practical while maintaining your safety.
If you have any further questions please ask on booking.
Your safety is our priority
One question that often comes up on a first aid course is if it is okay to use an ice pack on a head injury and the answer is, yes you can if there is a lump on the head this is fine. Do not use something straight from the freezer without wrapping it first.
If your setting says you can’t then follow their policy as this is what will give you insurance for doing first aid
It is good to carry some first aid supplies with you in case your child gets hurt when they are out and about. You don’t need to have any spray plasters or special wound cleaning spray which cost money. If you want to carry anything with you some plasters, gauze and maybe some wound wipes will be useful to have with you.
At home you might have some paracetamol suspension, a decent well reviewed thermometer and some plasters. There is no need to buy germolene or savlon as tap water is enough to clean a wound.
If someone has blood coming out of their mouth it can be difficult to do much about it and it should stop fairly quickly. Pay attention to their oral hygiene.
If they are bleeding from a cut on their face / lip / chin which you can see apply pressure to the area with some gauze for a few minutes to see if it stops. Once you have controlled the bleeding check to see if the wound needs closing, you may need to visit an urgent care centre.
If your child has knocked their teeth out or they are bruised take them to an emergency dentist.
As always if you are worried about your child in anyway seek medical advice.
Falls from windows are a real risk to small children. To find out more about how to secure your windows check out this video from the child accident prevention trust which shows how you can keep windows secure from small children without applying bars to the windows.
I have looked over numerous children and young people over the years with Diabetes and one things I have noticed is that when they come in really sick prior to diagnosis their parents often don't know the signs. This resource gives a bit more information on what type 1 diabetes is. This video from Diabetes UK is worth a watch
Most children will at some point have a vomiting bug. This can feel quite stressful as a parent and it can be hard to know what to do. The most important thing is to ensure they remain hydrated. They will be unlikely to want to eat anything and this is not too much of a concern for a day or two. Getting fluid into them is your priority.
If they are vomiting it is important to offer them small amounts of fluid every few minutes, 5 – 10ml as appropriate. Avoid letting them take in large amounts of fluid in one go. If they can’t tolerate this then it is time to seek advice.
Other things of concern might be:
If you are concerned about your child seek advice.
An AED is used to restart the heart of a person who is in cardiac arrest.
75% of adults who collapse and stop breathing will be in a shockable rhythm. Prompt use of an AED will increase their chances of survival significantly.
Use of the AED is covered and assessed on all courses. Early use of an AED is key to the survival of adults in cardiac arrest. The more people we can educate to use AEDs the better.
Want to know more why not book a course now?
An AED is a device that can be used to restart the heart when someone has gone into cardiac arrest, collapsed and stopped breathing. We teach how they are used on every single course. Knowing where your nearest one is could save someone’s life.
AEDs can be found in supermarkets, train stations, dentists, schools and a variety of other places. Why not have a look next time you are out and about? We found one in a local high street recently (see picture).
To find out more about how to use an AED book a first aid course today
Choking is most parents fear and rightly so as it is a big risk in children under the age of 5. Babies and small children often gag when eating food, but this does not mean that they are choking. If you can hear them making a noise then there is no need to intervene. Watch and see if they manage to clear their airway.
Choking is silent regardless of the age of the person. In addition people will go pale, even blue and look really startled.
The best thing to do is to try and prevent it happening in the first place.
To find out more or to book onto a first aid course please get in touch
CPR practical assessment is a really important part of every first aid course. When it comes to CPR or Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation the aim is to take over the function of the heart and keep the brain perfused with oxygen.
It is important to be confident in the assessment of the casualty. So when do you need to do CPR? The simple answer is when the person is not breathing or not breathing normally, and this is something we always discuss on our courses. Firstly how do you assess whether someone is breathing and secondly what “agonal” gasps are. To find out more why not book a course today?
First aid kits that are “HSE Approved” are green with a white cross. These should be in an easily accessible place with the record book. Staff should be made aware of their location.
You can add things to your first aid kit that you consider relevant to your work place.
For a list of the contents of a first aid kit follow this link
Remember to check your first aid kits regularly as things do expire, and make sure you keep them stocked up when they have been used.
An AED is used to restart the heart of a person who is in cardiac arrest.
75% of adults who collapse and stop breathing will be in a shockable rhythm. Prompt use of an AED will increase their chances of survival significantly.
Use of the AED is covered and assessed on all courses. Early use of an AED is key to the survival of adults in cardiac arrest. The more people we can educate to use AEDs the better.
Want to know more why not book a course now?
We offer a range of different courses online, many of which are great for your professional development as they are CPD accredited. We also have a parent first aid course which is available online which is for information purposes to give parents some basic knowledge of how to cope in the event of an emergency.
For a certified first aid course such as:
to be meet the requirements of the health and safety executive, Ofsted, the varying awarding bodies and any other relevant bodies there needs to be an assessment of the skills needed to be a first aider. This includes things such as
This means that a proportion of the training will need be delivered and assessed face to face.
We offer blended learning which is part online and part face to face.
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