Training Day

Ann, Gwen and I put on the First Aid and Incident Management Training for the Walking Festival volunteers. Today there were 14 of them. We concentrate on how to manage any incident that might occur during a festival walk. That means dealing with the casualty, calling emergency services and managing the rest of the group.

We have modified the training over time to try to keep it simple, but give the volunteers enough in the way of information and skills to cope. Common sense and keeping calm are two essential attributes!

Here you see some of the group practising the recovery position. They were so keen that the pairs kept on working until they were happy each had cracked the technique. (It's not easy when someone falls face down and you have to turn them over!!)

I like the sense of organised chaos in the picture. Everyone receives a First Aid book to carry in their rucksack. You can't learn how to deal with every medical emergency in one day, so having the book should help. You turn to the appropriate page and follow the instructions.

I'm rather tired, but I loved doing the training - I used to enjoy teaching when I was at work.

Mum had a phone call today from a consultant in Newcastle asking her to attend an appointment tomorrow. We are not sure what it is all about, so we await the outcome with eager anticipation.

No news about the asbestos. The insurer phoned to tell me that the asbestos people would be in touch and was surprised to hear that they had already been and gone, but the job is not done. Ho hum.