Fast Response first aid kits in Green are here. They can be attached to a belt and contain: a robust bag, trauma fix dressing, shears, wound closure strips, CPR face shield with a valve, gloves, cleansing wipes, adhesive dressing, tape, plasters and OP Airways size 3, 4 and 5 (Airways come in sterile packaging – removed here for clarity). All for £16 plus VAT and postage (£2.80). Compact forestry first aid kits are in stock now and will be posted here after the weekend.
News
D of E First Aid Kits are here!
We now have the pupil D of E First Aid Kits. They meet the recommended requirements and are £9.00 inc VAT. You may also like to supplement the kits for each pupil with a burns dressing and blister plasters to be carried by the group. Burns dressings are useful additions to an outdoor first aid kit. Water may be available, but a burns dressing may be the only option to facial burns in the event of a Trangia cooking stove flaring up. The person can also be transported to hospital wearing the burn dressing. The dressings are also great for burns to hands as they can help prevent fingers sticking together in the event of a partial thickness burn. Combined with cling film, the burns dressings help prevent infection, reduce pain, reduce fluid loss that creates shock and a burn dressing applied to a face could be the difference between being scarred for life or not. We now have a huge range of first aid kits in stock and individual items and we are looking forward to our new website which will contain a first aid equipment shop along with guidelines on how to use the kit.
Spring Update
We have been extremely busy this winter/spring training in the UK, Nepal and Prague. We have employed another Tutor, however we still have availability for other Tutors to join our team. Potential Tutors need to hold a professional qualification in a subject relevant to the courses we provide. So, HCPC Paramedic, Doctor, Consultant, Rescue Team Medic to name a few. They also need to have relevant experience in the outdoors for the subject area they wish to teach in and a teaching qualification. Applicants are invited for interview and successful applicants also go through our Tutor training programme.
Our waterproof books are now for sale and we also have great value Duke of Edinburgh Award first aid kits which include burn dressings to comply with the guidelines. We also sell first aid kits for Mountain Leaders, Expedition Leaders, Canoeists and Cave Leaders. You will be able to find these all on our new website which is due soon. Course members can currently buy discounted first aid supplies on our courses.
We have increased availability on our Wilderness First Aid Expedition Leader courses due to demand. These courses will be running every month throughout the year.
Wilderness First Aid Expedition Leader (40hrs)
We have now compiled the appraisals for the Wilderness First Aid Expedition Leader (40hr) course and they will be posted out next week. Each participant completed a written paper on the core syllabus plus cannulation and oxygen. They were then assessed for 40 minutes on a one to one basis with a paramedic for practical skills in oxygen use and cannulation. All were successful in the night exercise too. All participants were to such a high standard they have been asked to come back and assist on our courses. The assessor stated that she would be more than happy to have each person to shadow her on events that she covers as a paramedic. The portfolio of evidence is particularly useful as it can be presented to an employer if you are going for an interview and can help with gaining employment on expeditions. We will be adding more information and photos on this course over the next few days as we have another course in January, February and March.
Due Diligence in your choice of a first aid training provider
Today the HSE have issued a statement on their website with regards to choosing a first aid training provider and have made particular reference to first aid training in the outdoors which can be found at this link First Aid Regulatory Change Takes Effect. This is good news for everyone as it gives more freedom for your choice in choosing a provider as long as that provider can prove they are working to recognised standards. There have been many organisations and providers lobbying for change.
The common thread is to work to recognised standards and guidelines with qualified tutors that have experience in the topics they are teaching and have a robust administration system to back this up. Not forgetting to ensure that the training meets its aims in providing first aiders who are competent to provide immediate care to the ill or injured.
High Peak First Aid has been involved in discussions/meetings with a number of training providers and organisations. One of these organisations are the Institute for Outdoor Learning. High Peak First Aid was asked to attend a working party set up by the Institute for Outdoor Learning: a representatives from the Mountain Training Association and the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority were present along with individuals from other organisations. Over several meetings, training standards and course content were discussed and more people were asked to contribute. We also took information back to our courses and consulted with our clients and fed back the results to the IOL. The IOL has not set out to say they are the only route training providers involved in the outdoors should be taking. However, they have produced an article on Outdoor First Aid Training which also has a link to Outdoor First Aid Training Standards which is a document open for consultation. If you have any views on this, contact the IOL.
To ensure our clients are reassured with our standards we have a Due Diligence link on our website.
Nicola Pickering
Company Director – High Peak First Aid Training
