First aid course

[dave]

Ive not done one since i was a teenager i realise that a lot has changed and there is probably a lot I've forgotten.

I was at jungle adventure today and a lady came over to me trying to sell me a 3 hour first aid course aimed mainly at first aiding kids accidents but covering adults too. cost will be about £35

she showed me how to properly protect a burn using cling film (you don't just wrap it like i thought) and said due to infection risk in under 5's always take them to hospital no matter how small the burn and insist on being transferred to a burns unit, she said its new protocol but not all A&E staff are aware of it, due to a kid getting an infection in a small burn and all his skin falling off

Should i go for the course or can i get same thing cheaper of for free?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Did this 'Lady' show you some form of ID?

 

[dave]

yes and she is police officer on maternity leave atm but not going back to being a pc until kids are older so looking at ways to make a living as she now a single mum.

the place new she was there touting for business, they had her posters up

 

[ElliottMK2B]

I've recently done a 3 day first aid at work course which I thought was pretty good, it was with a company called First on Scene.

I think it costs around £210, but lucky for me my work paid for it.

 

[ChrisUK]

Trained or not I'd still be calling 999. Cannot be done with someone suing me for 'assault'.

 

[dave]

First aid is more to be able to do some thing before ambulance arrives though isnt it?

 

[ChrisUK]

Still doesn't stop you getting sued.

 

[dave]

but your own family are not likely to sue you

 

[dave]

said due to infection risk in under 5's always take them to hospital no matter how small the burn and insist on being transferred to a burns unit, she said its new protocol but not all A&E staff are aware of it, due to a kid getting an infection in a small burn and all his skin falling off

anyone know anything about this new protocol? google isn't helping me

 

[AndyRKett]

you should be able to access first aid training free through St John Ambulance or the Red Cross.

there are lots of people these days setting them self up as 'private ambulance services' 'events first aiders' and so on and only hold some of the most basic certificates, at least with St John or the red cross they are well managed organisations that actually teach the proper up to date information and not some crap they've half heard while falling asleep in a lecture.


this woman sounds a bit fruitloop to me and you're local A&E department won't thank you for turning up for every little bump and scrape your little one gets if concerned dial 111 in the first instance

 

[AndyRKett]

anyone know anything about this new protocol? google isn't helping me

i'll check with my missus when she gets home but it won't be till after 2am as that's when she finishes her shift in A&E...... as an A&E doctor..... i'm pretty certain I know what the answer will be.

Dial 111

 

[dave]

she didn't say every little bump and scrape, just burns.

 

[AndyRKett]

Although I should point out the Cling film thing is correct, in serious burns you can cut off the first inch or two of the roll to get rid of anything that's been exposed to bugs then rap the burn well and get to hospital.

keeps the wound nice an clean

 

[a1ant]

It's recommended that any child under 5 with a burn seeks medical advice, but that doesn't mean throwing common sense out of the window.

A tiny burn on a 4yr old that produces a small red mark, would not require further treatment (provided there are no other medical conditions/ symptoms/ shock etc) and certainly wouldn't require a specialist burns unit.

First aid, no matter what level is a great skill to have!

I would find out more about her, her qualifications and what her course will give you at the end in terms of qualification BEFORE parting with your cash. There are plenty of places that will provide first aid training or point you to accredited trainers such as St John Ambulance and the Red Cross.

A 3hr session would be a very basic one I would imagine.

Alan

Edit: ah well Andy beat me to most of that!

 

[Focus Owner]

111 is a good service, the staff can be a little daft. not understanding the nead to communicate with other family members and the difficulty of talking to death people

on burns i pick up minor ones about twice a year with about a 1 year scar life
things like molten metal going down my boot.
(i cant see any way to stop the scar rate) takes at least 1 min to remove a boot by what time the metal has cooled. all i do is remove the remainder. and strip of the burnt stuff, stick a plaster over it till its able to handle dirt

 

[AndyRKett]

Ironically other have just phoned me.

the 'any child under 5' thing is what is taught to 'first aiders' as they are rubbish at assessing the severity of a burn.

they are always careful with burns in young children however 'insisting' your child is taken to a specialist burns unit which apparently the only one in our region is Colchester won't get you very far, A&E will send pictures to the burns unit if they think its needed and the burns unit will decide if they think the child is appropriate for specialist treatment

Go with St John or if you have one locally a red cross group to get the basics

 

[dave]

I knew about cling film but i would have just got to the clean bit then wrapped it around the limb with the burn, the way she showed it in was secure but not tight.

Colchester isnt a burns unit its addenbrookes Cambridge iirc

 

[scout]

Is she a qualified trainer? The reason St Johns and red cross are best for this sort of thing is the backup you receive from them when you pass. You are covered by their insurance and a prosecution is very unlikely to succeed if you 'make things worse' (break a rib while resuscitating someone etc.). Plus they are the ones that write the book on first aid so are up to date with the latest 'thoughts' and techniques.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Trained or not I'd still be calling 999. Cannot be done with someone suing me for 'assault'.

Still doesn't stop you getting sued.

This to date has never occurred in the UK, at least thats what I was informed doing my defibrillator trailing a few months back.

 

[dave]

st john's isnt free its about the same price £30.00 (inc VAT) but is 25 miles to the nearest 1 to me. thats for the course that covers infants too. the just basic one is 50 miles away

red cross is (£45.00 inc VAT) but not as far away

brc have an app http://www.redcross.org.uk/What-we-do/First-aid/Mobile-app