First Aid skills are important in any walk of life, but being skilled in First Aid is absolutely fundamental to being a Close protection professional. Some schoolchildren are now taught very basic First Aid. This is a good thing. First Aid should be on everybody’s curriculum. Over the years, I have seen and been amazed at the number of bodyguards’ CV/resumes that make no mention of First Aid. When questioned in interview, these candidates mention that yes, they have done First Aid in the Army: ‘about ten years ago’ or ‘I did a lifesaving course, “a while ago”‘.

This is simply not good enough. I can guarantee with some certainty that First Aid skills will be needed in a career of close protection. You may never need that bootleg turn that you practise over and over in the car or the quick draw and chair roll that you have perfected for hotel corridors; but you will need your knowledge of First Aid.

Professional Bodyguards Must Train in First Aid

First Aid is a skill like any other; it needs constant practice to remain effective. Techniques and ideas change so it is imperative that you carry out continual training and remain up to date. Most books on ‘close protection’ include a chapter on First Aid but this is a token gesture and often used only to pad out the book. Authors tend to stick to sexy First Aid like suckling chest wounds, tracheotomies and gunshot wounds. They ignore the simple facts, such as your principal is hundreds of times more likely to die choking on a pretzel than be shot in the chest. First Aid needs its own book, and cannot be covered in a single chapter. You will need to undertake a course in First Aid.

In the UK when the Security Industry Authority (SIA) commissioned the key skills or core competencies, the draft documents included just sexy First Aid. Some sensible folk lobbied to get this taken out and be replaced by a formal qualification in First Aid. Eventually, the SIA chose the Health and Safety Executive’s ‘First Aid at Work’ course, which is run over four days and which is accompanied by written and practical exams. In the UK, therefore, you will need this First Aid qualification to get a licence to operate as a Close Protection Officer. The course covers much more than tracheotomies and for those that really want to know, yes, they do teach you about suckling chest wounds.

The course will cover the following:

* Introduction to first aid

* Personal hygiene

* Circulation

* Resuscitation

* Dressings and bandages

* Wounds and bleeding

* Circulatory disorders

* Duties of a First Aider

* The skeleton

* Fractures

* Unconsciousness

* Burns and scalding

* Handling and transport

This course certificate is valid for three years; thereafter, before your certificate runs out, you must undertake a two day refresher course. Go over three years and you will have to do the whole course again to get re-certificated.

Other Essential First Aid Courses

While the basic First Aid course above is enough to get you a licence to operate in the UK you should consider at least two other First Aid qualifications, which are essential if you are to become a protection professional.

Automated External Defibrillator Course

This short course teaches you how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). This device can be used to administer measured electric shocks to people in the throes of cardiac arrest and is the best way of increasing their chance of survival. Many close protection teams routinely carry AEDs and you must be trained in their use. Most ‘de-fib’ courses last around one day and the course certificate must be renewed every six months.

First Aid for children

Very often the addition of a first aid certificate applicable to children will make a close protection officer more employable in a family environment. Most courses available are aimed at giving first aid to adults so you will have to look hard to find one especially for children. First aid techniques for children differ in some crucial areas. Participants learn about techniques for resuscitating children and infants, conducting risk assessments and how to deal with choking, burns, scalds and seizures. In a career in close protection, you will find that you work for principals that have families that include young children. You will often be charged with their care. You need to know what to do in the event of an accident or illness. If you are working in an environment that includes children, you cannot be a bodyguard without these skills.

James Brown BEM is the author of the Bodyguards Bible – The Definitive Guide to Close protection. All things Close Protection can be found here http://www.bodyguardsbible.com

If you surf online or look at the supermarket shelves the variety of plasters that are available can become a very complicated affair. There are different materials, shapes and sizes and all claiming to be the best…but just where did the first plaster come from?

Well to trace the heritage of the modern day plaster you have to go back to 1920 when Earle Dickinson invented the first adhesive bandage. At the time Earle Dickinson was a cotton buyer for Johnson & Johnson and the story goes that his wife was “not very adept in the kitchen”. She was always cutting herself in the kitchen and because applying gauze pads and adhesive tape was difficult to do on her own, she often summoned her husband to complete the task.

Johnson & Johnson, the company Earle was working for, had been making sterile dressings and adhesive tapes for decades, but nobody had ever put the two together. Dickson affixed squares of the cotton gauze to a long strip of tape and covered the whole thing in crinoline, which helped to stop the adhesive tape sticking to itself. Mrs Dickson could now simply cut a piece from the strip, peel off the crinoline and bandage her wound.

Not that the first years sales were ground breaking, but over the next few years the product became more streamlined and grew into what everyone now knows as Band Aid –selling over 100billion over the last 80 years.

Nowadays the plaster has progressed into many different ranges, materials, sizes and colours and some of these are a legal requirement to stock. For example the blue detectable range of plasters are specifically designed for the catering industry and are required under the Food Hygiene Regulations Act that when handling or preparing food blue detectable plasters should be used on all cuts and grazes.

Washproof plasters offer a water resistant and ventilated adhesive plaster which helps to provide discreet protection when you don’t want the plaster to be seen, whereas fabric plasters are made from a breathable material that improves healing time and reduces the risk of further infection.

So that’s Blue detectable, washproof and fabric…but what’s this hypo-allergenic type? A hypo-allergenic plaster is a latex free adhesive plaster which reduces the risk of an allergic reaction.

The First Aid Warehouse specializes in the supply of first aid equipment and diagnostic products to both the public and trade. They offer an extensive range of products including washproof, fabric and blue detectable plasters.

With a wealth of industry knowledge, their online e-commerce platform provides a safe and secure environment to purchase from. They accept all major credit and debit cards and welcome orders from members of the public and health organisations including Primary Care Trusts, Care Homes, Surgeries, schools etc. If you wish to set up a business account, you can contact them either via sales@firstaidwarehouse.co.uk or on 0845 6121217





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Hearing aid prices and how they differ

Even when one needs to spend money on a critical item such as a hearing aid there is a lack of desire in actually parting with the money. So, it is not uncommon for individuals to look for lower cost hearing aid prices when the need to purchase a new digital hearing aid is required. However it is not always the best option to look for hearing aid prices that are the lowest and as the cheapest option may not be suitable or fit for purpose.

Shop Around to find out about hearing aid prices is the best advice.

Probably the best way to find more information on hearing aid prices would be to shop around. You will need to find a local hearing aid retailer who will provide a free hearing test and guidance on suitable hearing aids for your requirements and hearing loss.

Always consider all hearing aid options, consider the different styles and makes of digital hearing aids. All the major manufacturers, such as Phonak, Oticon and GN Resound have their own portfolios of different types and styles of digital hearing aids, including the new open ear hearing aids. 

The NHS offers a free service in the UK. You would initially need to see your GP, who will refer you to be put on a waiting list for an audiological assessment, probably at a local hospital. Then, if you fall into NHS prescription guidelines, you will be able to rent a hearing aid free of charge of then. This will include free hearing aid batteries as well.  However on the NHS you will only be provided with a behind the ear hearing aid as they do not provide ‘in the ear’ or ‘completely in the canal’ hearing aids – the smaller and more cosmetically acceptable hearing aids.

Hearing aid prices will vary across the range of different digital hearing aids and hearing aid manufacturers but with Oticon hearing aids and Phonak hearing aids you can be sure to find something in your budget.

Disposable modular hearing aids are the cheapest hearing aids available and are sometime advertised for less than £100. These are not made to fit an individual ear, and can prove more expensive than a ‘proper’ digital hearing aid due to the need to constantly replace it. They are by no means suitable for all types and levels of hearing loss, nor will they provide any comfort to the hearing aid wearer due to its modular make.

Digital hearing aids have revolutionised the hearing aid market and provide amazing benefits to the hearing aid wearer such as noise filters, directional microphones, wind noise suppression and anti-feedback technology.

When considering a digital hearing aid for the first time, speak to a professional hearing care retailer and ask about the level of aftercare offered and whether its included within the price of the hearing aid.

For a horse, in his ideal little world, he would live his days wandering acres of land, spending the majority of his time grazing, in the fresh air, far away from dust allergies and mould spores. However, he’s not in his ideal little world, he’s in ours, and for the responsible and caring owners who do their best to provide our animals with everything they need, some times it’s unavoidable for them to spend time cooped up in a stable.

‘Oh my!’ I may hear you cry, ‘My stable is big, it has windows, he has the best hay. He wants for nothing!’ Yes, indeed he may, but a stable, to an animal that has been genetically programmed over millions of years to wander the plains, any stable is cooped up. I don’t mean to offend, and I do understand that sometimes, it’s necessary, but there you are.

As a result of living in a stable, horses are often exposed to many different types of dust particles. These maybe from hay, straw, pollen etc. Just as in people, some of them will develop an allergy; and it’s impossible to predict which ones and when it will happen.

As a cautionary tale to those who have horses that don’t live in stables, I have a coloured cob, who I’ve owned since he was 2 years old and he’s never been in a stable, never mind lived in one. He’s now 13 and for the last 3 years, over winter, about 6 weeks after the hay starts going out, and I’m very picky about the hay and where it comes from, he gets a bit of a dusty cough, and you can see the extra effort involved in breathing. So there really is no telling.

COPD, otherwise known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder is the most commonly occurring medical equine disorder in the UK. In fact, respiratory diseases in general are a common problem to horses and ponies in general.

The indicators of COPD can vary greatly, and reflect the severity of the condition. At their worst, horses may be in a severe state of distress, with nasal discharge, much coughing and wheezing and the extra effort seen by the stomach muscles to aid expiration (breathing out) is clear to see.

The symptoms of COPD become visible when the airways attempt to challenge the allergens. These responses fall into three categories. There is inflammation of the airway walls, excess mucus production and the spasms of the bronchial walls; which results in the narrowing of the airways due to the contraction of the muscles in their walls. The end result is a reduced capacity for airflow. (Think asthma or trying to breath through a straw!)

If you should become concerned that your horse may be developing COPD, it’s important for you to get the vet out. He will be able to confirm or deny the problem, and advise on how best to go on from there.

The best action to take is to avoid the allergens. This generally involves 24hr turnout, and replacing hay with ‘haylage’ type substitutes, or complete feed nuts.

Sometimes, the horse owner is unable or unwilling to make these changes, and therefore the stable environment must be altered.

Good ventilation in stables is vital in all equine housing, but even more so when COPD is a problem. The majority of the allergens come from hay and bedding, so these must be substituted for something else. If a hay substitute is not available, the hay should be soaked for 20 minutes. This enables the dust and mould spores to absorb water and avoid becoming airborne.

A low dust bedding is also called for. It is possible to use no bedding when rubber mats are used, but some horses just will not be comfortable in this situation. If bedding is used, shredded paper or cardboard are good substitutes. Wood shavings can also work. Straw is no good as it too has a high mould spore content.

The make up of these alternatives can of course vary, so a bit of trial and error may be called for before you go buying in a barn full of something that’s not going to work.

Making these changes to feed and bedding does not remove the need for the utmost cleanliness, and a deep litter bedding system is a big no-no.

Of course, all this is a bit like whistling in the wind, if all the other stables in the vicinity are not managed the same way. It’s also a good idea to maybe make your exercise time, at the same time when everyone else is mucking out, to avoid the extra exposure to allergens at that time. Of course, this is not always possible.

COPD is a permanent thing, and these pointers are all to help with the management of a long term condition. There are also various herbal and or veterinary supplements that can help. Mind you, none of them are a cure, just another aid in management of the condition.

COPD, whilst it is a serious condition that needs consistent and conscientious management, it certainly doesn’t mean the end of the horses’ useful life. Many horses live and work perfectly well despite having it. It is down to us as owners to be diligent and find a system that works and to stick to it.

Over one million children experience accidents in and around the home each year. Falls are the most common causes of accidents with 66,000 youngsters aged between 5 and 14 taken to casualty departments just in the UK alone.

In addition, around 15,000 children are admitted to hospital suffering from burns.

However, Nurse Kathleen McGraw said the statistics aren’t as scary as they sound.

“You do have to put it into context, children do tend to be accident prone when they first start to walk and crawl and move around. It is part of the way in which we learn,” she said.

So, what should be in your first aid box?

“You may have cuts and bruises to deal with so think of the ages of people who are in your house. A scrape is a scrape whether you’re eight months old or 80 years old, the principles remain the same – have things that can cleanse the wound.

Have things that you can treat cuts and bruises with. These are things that will stop wounds from getting infected. Things like antiseptic creams, gels and sprays.”

Kathleen says there are many old wives tales regarding how to deal with cuts and burns. She warns to ignore these tales.

“The most dangerous one is probably one of the oldest I’ve heard about putting butter on burns. No, no, no and many times no. The best thing to do with a burn is to run cold water and run that over the injury for 10 or 15 minutes and then cover it with a cold bandage.

I’ve been asked an awful lot about putting steaks onto black eyes. Once again this is an old tale and should be avoided. The best thing for bruising is to have a packet of frozen peas in you fridge. It can take away irritation and inflammation. For children have ice lollies in your freezer. If they cut their lip or chip a tooth this will take down the swelling and reduce the pain.”

What about pain relief for kids? Kathleen advises: “proper paracetemol medicine is perfectly safe from the age of 3 to 6 months onwards.”

So, to sum up, always have a first aid box in your home, and if you use medicine or plasters make sure you top them up when you have used them. There’s nothing worse than searching for a plaster only to find that there’s none left.

Camping and outdoor holidays are becoming evermore popular with families who are realising the benefits of spending time with nature and of course each other. Planning a camping or outdoor holiday however does require a logical approach to packing, making sure that all of the relevant equipment and accessories have been obtained before departure. It is hoped that the following information will give those who are choosing to enjoy a camping trip or an outdoor holiday a checklist of the most vital equipment and accessories that will be required.

First and foremost is the tent. This may seem obvious on a camping trip but it is not just remembering to take the tent, it is choosing one that will be able to accommodate the family comfortably; there is little point in four people cramming into a two man tent. There are a large number of family tents available on the market, some of the best are dome style tents that often have a number of pods that meet at a covered focal point. It is normal that each pod will hold around two or three people so a three pod tent can hold as many as nine people. The central focal point is extremely useful for cooking or simply relaxing when the whether is bad, especially important when camping in the UK.

In terms of accessories that should be included as well as the tent, sleeping bags are a necessity. Remember that if on an outdoor holiday in a cold region or in the winter months then buying a quality, high tog level bag is vital; hypothermia is a very real possibility in some conditions. For those who wish for a bit of comfort while camping, accessories such as airbeds may be considered, although hardened campers will probably prefer a foam mat. Having these essentials will ensure that at the very least, you will have somewhere warm and dry to sleep.

Other accessories worth taking on outdoor holidays include lanterns; these can be gas or electric but are vital for providing a central light. As well as the lantern individual torches should also be taken, for those frequent midnight journeys to the toilet. Other essentials include a first aid kit, lengths of rope and bin bags; the first aid kit is always useful, bin bags help you to keep your site tidy while rope has thousands of uses and you never know when it will come in handy. Cooking equipment and food are also a necessity; the majority of campsites prefer campers not to cook over open fires.

So far we have looked at essential equipment and accessories to take on your camping trip. There are many other items that can be taken however that will help make the holiday more enjoyable. Keeping the children entertained is an understandable concern so items such as Frisbees, footballs and badminton sets are always popular. The weather can rarely be depended upon however so it is important to be prepared for the worst, hence taking along some board games and a pack of cards is advisable. While books are not the most fun items for children, reading them by torchlight adds an extra element of enjoyment and will keep the children entertained once the sun has set.

The outdoor holiday or camping trip is the ideal way to vacation together. It allows for bonding, a great time and enjoyment for all. By heeding this checklist you should at least have the basics for your trip to ensure it is comfortable. For those who are unsure there is but one piece of advice to remember, the old scouting motto of ‘Be Prepared’.

First aid training for people working with children commonly known as paediatric first aid is something of a grey area within the UK training industry. There is no regulatory authority in the way the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) monitors first aid for the workplace, and contrary to what some may believe, first aid training for child carers does not fall within the remit of the HSE.

OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) and SureStart are the two main organisations with an interest in first aid training for people employed in the childcare sector.

OFSTED are the government inspection authority who report on and improve standards of achievement at all levels of pre-school and compulsory education. This role is carried out in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland by departments of the relevant devolved administration and as a result there may be some minor differences, although the principles are basically the same.

SureStart operates in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and one of their major responsibilities is in the field of childcare. For this reason they have issued guidance regarding the minimum content of first aid training courses for childcarers.

The legislation covering persons wishing to register as childcarers requires them to hold an “appropriate first aid qualification”. In the best traditions of the people who draft our laws, they have gone on to clarify that an “appropriate first aid qualification” means a qualification in first aid appropriate for the treatment of children for whom early years provision is provided. Which makes everything a lot clearer!

Fortunately, for us, SureStart have issued guidelines as to what exactly should be included in a paediatric first aid course. The guidelines can be found on their website www.surestart.gov.uk . The opening paragraph of those guidelines states “Generalist first aid certificates that are the normal requirements for employers, although required in work settings, are not sufficient for working with young children and babies. For settings covering only 12-16 years olds an adult first aid certificate is appropriate.”

SureStart require training courses to last a minimum of 12 hours and be designed specifically for workers caring for children in the absence of their parents. It should lead to a certificate or a renewal certificate which must be renewed every 3 years. Resuscitation mannequins and other equipment used during the course should include baby and junior models as appropriate. Students should learn the requirements of reporting and recording of accidents and incidents, and be taught what first aid kits for use with babies and children should contain.

In order to fully comply with the guidelines, students should be taught how to recognise, treat and respond appropriately to ALL of the following in respect of babies and children: planning for and dealing with emergencies, resuscitation, shock, anaphylactic shock, electric shock, bleeding, burns and scalds, choking, suspected fractures, head, neck and back injuries, cases of poisoning, foreign bodies in the eye, ear and nose, eye injuries, bites and stings, the effects of extreme heat and cold, febrile convulsions, epilepsy, asthma, sickle cell, diabetes, meningitis and other serious sudden childhood illness.

It must be stressed that the above criteria is only compulsory if the client has an obligation to comply with the guidelines, although many education establishments choose courses complying with the guidelines as it now seen as a benchmark, especially when courses attract government funding. Some organisations may require QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority) accredited paediatric courses and there are a number of organisations through which training providers can supply these courses.

Since the National Childminders Association (NCMA) and the Pre School Learning Alliance (PSLA) discontinued their first aid approval some years ago, there is now no nationally recognised approval scheme for paediatric first aid training.

It is important to realise that in a childcare organisation the requirement for staff to be trained in paediatric first aid to care for children, is in addition to any obligations under the Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. Although a person having successfully completed a paediatric course would in all probability be acceptable as an “appointed person” for HSE requirements.

So, if as a trainer or training organisation you wish to deliver paediatric first aid training to your clients, ensure you comply with the guidelines, seek approval of your course from the local authority in the areas you work and think twice before paying money to any scheme claiming to be an approval body!

Sources:

OFSTED

SureStart

Going on holiday gives everyone time to relax and let their hair down. Getting away from the stress of everyday life is great, but being off your guard can significantly increase the risk of having an accident.

Most accidents on holiday occur within the first couple of days, and the most common types of injuries are fractures, cuts and sprains. These tend to occur early on in the holiday when you are unfamiliar with the new surroundings. You can reduce your chances of injury or illness by following these seven holiday steps.

1. Equip yourself with a travel first aid kit and medical pack

A travel first aid kit will need to include all the basic bandages and dressings necessary for your trip. A premium Medical Pack will include sterile syringes, needles and cannula sets. Having your own syringes and needles ensures that a high level of hygiene can be achieved if you are admitted to hospital in countries with a lower standard of hygiene than the UK . You could save yourself from a nasty infection.

2. Avoid getting bitten

In the UK , most bites and stings are painful but harmless and only affect the area around the sting. When abroad however, allergic reactions or infections from insect bites can become life-threatening. You should use a reliable insect repellent, and if you are heading for the tropics, check out the need for malaria tablets with your doctor. When abroad, be aware of other stinging and biting animals and insects, such as scorpions, snakes, spiders, and jellyfish. Vinegar is great for jellyfish stings. Carry some sachets (such as the ones in fast food outlets) in your first aid kit.

3. Don’t ignore earache

Ear infections are a really a common problem on holiday. Bacteria picked up while swimming or playing in water seems to be the main cause. They are unbearably painful and could prevent you from flying. The cabin pressure intensifies the pain and can burst an infected ear-drum. Antibiotics work quickly, so the advice is that if you have an earache, get to a doctor sooner rather than later.

4. Watch what you eat

An upset stomach can ruin your holiday. It could be caused by food poisoning or from consuming food and water that has been contaminated by bacteria, parasites or viruses. You could experience vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Reduce the risk of stomach upset by only drinking bottled (preferably carbonated) water, avoiding shellfish (particularly uncooked varieties such as oysters), avoiding ice cream and ice in drinks, and only eating food that is piping hot.

5. Beware of the sun

A Royal Mail survey found that 38 per cent of us have suffered from extreme sunburn at some time. Those traveling to hot climates from countries such as the UK increase their risk of sunburn because their skin is unused to the sun. Fair skins are also more prone to sunburn. Because sunburn changes the skin’s DNA, it has been linked to skin cancers.

Sun protection is getting more and more effective. The factor you use depends on your skin type (fair skin = higher factor) and also on the area you are visiting, and the altitude. If you are unsure, play it safe with a factor of 25 or over.

6. Drink up!

Not too much alcohol though! If you become dehydrated, you are more likely to become ill. People don’t realize how much water they lose through perspiration at high temperatures. Symptoms include feeling dizzy, light-headed, lethargic and thirsty, followed by rapid heart rate and visibly wrinkled, inelastic skin. Children and the elderly are most at risk.

7. Check out the swimming areas

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents advises not to swim anywhere without being sure in advance that it is safe. This includes lakes, rivers and seas and if nobody is swimming in a certain area, ask why. Do not dive or jump into water unless you are certain that it is deep enough.

Never leave children alone in or near water. Avoid scuba-diving within 24 hours of a flight, and learn the basics in the UK before you go. The British Sub-Aqua Club training is more comprehensive than the internationally recognized Padi course.

The First Aid Warehouse specializes in the supply of first aid equipment and diagnostic products to both the public and trade. They offer an extensive range of products including Travel first aid kits, first aid items, and clinically approved sun care products.

With a wealth of industry knowledge, their online e-commerce platform provides a safe and secure environment to purchase from. They accept all major credit and debit cards and welcome orders from members of the public and health organisations including Primary Care Trusts, Care Homes, Surgeries, schools etc. If you wish to set up a business account, you can contact them either via sales@firstaidwarehouse.co.uk or on 0845 6121217

RESOURCES:

This article was written by Sharon Mason and is brought to you by First Aid Warehouse, UK’s premier supplier of medical equipment, first aid kits , blood pressure monitors , medical plasters , medical furniture, burnshield dressings and stethoscopes . We supply equipment to medical professionals, the care industry and the general public