Celebrating World First Aid Day!

We are celebrating World First Aid Day which is on Saturday 9^th September 2017. This year, the theme is about domestic accidents.  Falls are the most common home accidents and can cause serious injury at any time of life, but the risk increases with age.

First aid training teaches people about the dangers and causes of accidents and what to do in case of an injury.

The NHS reports that around one in three adults over 65 who live at home will have at least one fall a year, and about half of these will have more frequent falls.  There are a few things you can do to help prevent a fall. You could consider using non-slip mats in the bathroom and always mop up any spills straight away to prevent wet, slippery floors.  If you need to lift or move something heavy, ask for help.  Also, regularly remove clutter and ensure all areas of the home are well lit.

If you have a fall at home, the advice from the NHS is firstly to keep calm.

They say if you're not hurt and you feel strong enough to get up, do so, but don't get up too quickly. Roll onto your hands and knees and look for a stable piece of furniture, such as a chair or bed to help you.

Hold on to the furniture with both hands to support yourself and, when you feel ready, slowly get up. Sit down and rest for a while before carrying on with your daily activities.

If you're hurt or unable to get up, try to get someone's attention by calling out for help, banging on the wall or floor, or using your aid call button (if you have one). If possible, crawl to a telephone and dial 999 to request an ambulance.

Try to reach something warm, such as a blanket or dressing gown, to put over you, particularly your legs and feet. Stay as comfortable as possible and try to change your position at least once every half an hour or so.

With regard to falls at work, the HSE offers free downloadable resources from their website which cover spotting hazards, preventing trips and more.

We strongly advise you to attend a practical first aid course to gain the knowledge and vital skills to help in an emergency.  This year First Response First Aid will train over 40,000 people, enabling them to have the confidence and skills to cope with any emergency.  Our training team are handpicked for the subject knowledge of their specialism and also for their passion, reliability and attention to detail. 

We provide high-quality first aid training at affordable prices and this is something we continue to deliver, not only in the West Midlands, but across the UK, every week.  First Response First Aid doesn't just deliver first aid training courses either; our portfolio covers Health & Safety, Manual Handling, Food Safety, Fire training, Asbestos Awareness plus other bespoke courses, and we offer a mix of in-house courses and open courses, which are delivered in a variety of different locations.

Are you trained and up to date? If you're not sure, give us a call! 01543 372888

You never know when you might need first aid to help someone at work or a friend or family member.