ProTrainings UK Blog

We have now added to all our first aid courses new videos to bring them to follow the guidelines of the ERC and UK Resus Council.

The new guidelines we announced a few weeks ago and there are some changes in CPR.  Existing customers can look back and see the new videos to ensure they are up to date.  Unlike other courses with ProTrainings Video E-Learning you are kept up to date for 8 months after you buy the course.

Have a look at our online first aid e-learning courses You can see all our sites from this link including Manual Handling Online and Infection Control Online

We have now launched a new online course that is available as a online or a blended course with one of our national instructor/evaluators. This course is ideal for nurses, Doctors as well as anyone who wants to learn basic life support for Adult, Infant and Child.

For more information see www.probls.co.uk

The next of our European courses just went live at www.probloodbourne.co.uk.  This course covers the European and UK guidelines and is a good course for everyone to be aware with particularly people in the following sectors:

This list is not the only workplaces where a risk is present. Anyone at anytime could be at risk in their day to day life. For more information and to register go to the Blood Bourne Pathogens Training Site at www.probloodbourne.co.uk

When you approach any first aid scene you should always use the approach of STOP, THINK, and then ACT

One of the Fears of first aid, is the fear of getting hurt or simply being afraid. This can be addressed by remembering three simple steps STOP, THINK and ACT.

STOP – When you arrive at an emergency scene just stop for a second, assess the scene, think about what has caused the problem, are you able to approach safely? Look out for Electrical dangers, Fire, Traffic, Unknown hazards like gas.

THINK – Think about how are you going to approach, Think about how you are going to activate the emergency services, Think about how you are going to help the person.

ACT - Alert the emergency services, Approach the scene, Deal with the incident but remember never stop monitoring the scene safety.

This simple advice can save you from getting hurt.
Online First Aid Training Courses

Car accidents can present a variety of different problems and risks to the first aider.  The most important factor that has to be addressed if safety.  You need to make sure you are not at risk form other cars hitting you or the car you are dealing with.  There have been many accidents where another car has hit the first aider or the car they are beside or in.  The hard shoulder on a motorway is not a safe place especially when cars are passing at full speed.

It is also common for other cars to slow down and look, this in turn can cause another accident around you but stay focused on what is the most serious condition

You can help the person when you approach the car by telling them not to move, approach form the front and tell them to look straight ahead and not to turn round.  Someone in a car can do serious damage if they have a spinal injury, turning to speak to a first aider.  Keep talking to them calmly and clearly.

The best way you can help someone who you think may have a spinal injury is to support his or her head.  If done from the front take extreme care if the airbag has not triggered.  It is usually best to hold their head from behind.  This is because you can be trapped between the airbag and the patient hurting them more and causing serious injury to you.  Remember there are also side and rear airbags in modern cars. The airbag could go off without warning.

We know never to mover someone who has a spinal injury but if the car is on fire then it may be necessary to move him or her as quickly as possible to a place of safety.  Steam from the radiator is often confused for smoke.

Other injuries in car accidents can be anything that is covered in first aid courses.  There may have been an illness that caused the accident, like in the case where the driver has a heart attack.  It is therefore important to look at the whole history and events that lead up to the accident.  Ask questions to the people in the car and to other road users to get a picture of what happened then pass this information to the Paramedics and Police.

Often with car accidents less is more, and simply talking to the person, caring for them is enough.  Always make sure the EMS have been called and always keep looking out for potential dangers. Dangers like sharp metal can cause deep cuts to anyone approaching a damaged car.

Can be triggered by emotional or other medical conditions.  Can also be linked to a panic attack. Hyperventilation is a common problem for a First Aider to deal with and can raise concerns when seen to a possible heart attack.

There can be many signs and symptoms like chest pain, breathing difficulties, fear, dizziness, headaches and shaking.

They can be encouraged to breathe slowly but if this does not work then get them to breathe back their exhaled air to reset the correct breathing paten by breathing in and out of a paper bag.

Special points:

• You can get a paper bag to use in the lesson to demonstrate the skill
• Airplane sick bags are ideal
• It is also recommended in some cases not to use the bag but to calm them down and get them to concentrate on their breathing.

The FAW (First Aid at Work) qualification is chosen where the risk assessment of a business identifies the need.  It is a requirement of some jobs and an industry standard. The course is governed by the HSE and only approved centres can offer this course.

The FAW course used to be held over 4 days but in October 2009 this changed to 3 days. The certificate is valid for 3 years and then you have to take a 2 day requalification course to renew.  Make sure you renew in time, as if you are too late you will have to do the 3 days again. To find an instructor see first aid junction.

The HSE recommend that all FAW and the one day EFAW first aider complete an annual refresher course.  This can be done online at our First Aid at Work Refresher course site where you can complete the course at your pace and have access for 8 months.  You will on completion receive a certificate you can print off and a wallet card in the post.

You will also receive weekly update emails to ensure you are kept fully up to date.

All door supervisors (bouncers) have to have training and this includes first aid training.  This group is the latest that now include first aid training as part of their professional training plans. The last group to introduce this was for HGV and commercial lorry drivers.  The rulings state:

“From 1 June that training must also include physical intervention techniques like safe restraint and ejection.

The move is part of a widespread shake-up of the door supervisor licence which now includes lessons in first aid and terrorism awareness.

The training is only compulsory for first time door staff who have never worked in the industry before.”