Outdoor First Aid Courses are still held 8-10 times a month in the Peak District. There are plenty of scene changes with some lessons held in the immersive classroom, plenty of practical training for the use of haemostats and tourniquets and skill stations outside on the lawn or in the woods. We are managing the COVID-19 situation well by providing face masks for working inside or less than a metre outside. The outdoor first aid lessons are held in a variety of wilderness terrain right on our doorstep so we can still have access to hot soap and water for hand washing.
These Clinell wipes are strong and clean a wide area in a single wipe. This Clinell wipe is suitable for use on hands and equipment and kills 99.99% of bacteria and viruses including Coronavirus. We use them for cleaning our training facility and our mannequins.
These Clinell wipes are great for use around the home, car, workplace and wiping down food packaging. You can buy them here.
Face Masks in stock at a sensible price
Immersive learning for all First Aid Training
The first week back to full-time first aid training and introducing our immersive classroom. After 23 years of providing first aid training for urban and remote environments it has been amazing to see the results of immersive learning on our participants. The reduced group size due to COVID-19 has meant more time for practical work in and out of the classroom. Rotating through five individual scenarios for Primary Survey, CPR with management of Hypo and Hyperthermia has been incredible as it is possible to put every lesson into context if needed along with group discussions. This is active learnings at it’s best.
About five years ago, I thought an MSc in Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management at the University of Leicester seemed like a good idea. It did not cross my mind it would be a mammoth undertaking by distance learning whilst managing a very busy company. I survived: just. I concocted a dissertation that stated, ” Does competency in wilderness first aid training increase by using simulations involving injects and reflective feedback after active and experiential learning?”
The title seemed a good idea at the time until I found that there was only one, yes, only one other piece of literature available after a very extensive search. Staff at The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in the USA had written a paper. I figured they were the first and managed it so I could be the second. It worked, I passed and it wasn’t too shabby as I screamed into the finish line on time.
The immersive classroom though, is the final piece in the jigsaw. After one week of training I am amazed at the results I am having on our first aid courses. I also know that the first week has only scratched the surface of what can be achieved.
The first people to use the immersive classroom were the Wilderness First Aid 16hr courses. The next course will be First Response Emergency Care (FREC3) Having to adapt all first aid training due to COVID-19 was challenging but easily overcome by a combination of immersive classroom and the ability to step straight outside into wilderness terrain when needed.
I have spent a lot on PPE and specialized, sanitation products as safety is first over profit. I am extending this ethos to provide boxes of face masks at cost to participants for themselves and families. This week will also see the introduction of fill your own empty hand sanitizer bottles from our stock at High Peak First Aid, again at cost.
Last but not least, a big thank you to all the people who kept bookings at High Peak First Aid. As a Ltd Company Director I took the decision to not furlough as I could not have worked on the company and kept my customer service available.
I have personally trained over 23,000 people. I think I have it in me for another 23,000!
Return to First Aid Training in June
The first aid training will be compliance with the Government, Awarding Bodies and HSE guidelines. Due to social distancing, we are only taking five people per course in June and July. As a result of this the fee has increased but will include:
All PPE. We are using see-through face shields so you do not have to struggle the day through a paper mask which often increases face touching to adjust the fit. In addition, you keep the face shield.
Five people per course as this will ensure you receive more practical sessions and individual attention.
You will receive one mannequin per person with face shield as this decreases the chances of infection significantly.
The two classrooms will be “fogged” or sanitised at the end of each day. We are using this method because it ensures we can cover all the areas your are likely to come in contact with throughout the day.
We also havd a supply of PPE for purchase on courses. These will only be sold in boxes and not split as this will reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Temperatures will be taken on site at the start of each day.
We are implementing a track and trace system.
We have our own tea making facilities that are not shared with anyone else in our classroom.
We have our own toilet within our building that is not shared with anyone else.
All classroom floors are hard laminate with a wood effect. These are easy to sanitise during the day, at the end of the day and between courses unlike carpet.
We have no shortage of cleaning products as the Director is a “germophobe”!
Our usual standards of cleaning have been “Pandemic Ready” since 2007 when we took over out current building so adding some slight changes does not really cause a problem.
