Welcome to First Aid Club
The aim of this site is to provide some practical advice for people learning and using first aid.
It is no substitute for proper training, but hopes to supplement the recognised techniques as taught by the organisations listed on the right.
Beating Hearts Merrow
Defibrilator Training
Beating Hearts Merrow have activted their AED (it's by the barbers: GU1 2RE i.e. by the bus stop.) and are holding a training sesion via Zoom on Saturday 17th October.
2020: First Aid Today
Training Hiatus Over?
Saint Andrew have resumed training courses, available from (late?) September, and are selling on-line again.
Saint John have also resumed, from (earlier?) September.
Doubtless it will depend on your geographical location.
COVID19
There's an elephant-size virus in the room. First-aid appropriate? No, but considerations can be made.
Coronavirus/COVID19 isn't really a first aid matter: it's either preventative hygiene, alleviate symptoms or a hospital matter. But there are a few things that might help.
That Hand-Washing Thing
This one's effortless: Wash Your Hands!
Alcohol is less effective than soap and water for this type of virus, but it's better than nothing. So carry a handwash gel . . . and use it. But you're doing that already anyway? And quite possibly wearing gloves.
Rescue Breaths
The WHO (and Saint John) recommends not giving rescue breaths. If you insist, you're supposed to perform a 'dynamic risk assesment' and - if it's a family member, they'll pass - use a faceshield/mask of some kind.
These are devices to protect the participants from infection. I've only used (and then in practice) a Face-shield, which I didn't like. But there are others:
Faceshield
The face shield is basically a sheet of plastic with a hole in it. The hole has a piece of cloth over it. You line up the picture of a face with, well, the casualty's face and blow through the hole. Simples.
It's available as singles, tens or hundreds. If you don't fancy putting your mouth on something from China, there's a Norwegian option.
Revive-Aid
Similar to the above, it's a plastic sheet with a moulded plastic mouth-piece. Also this has a one-way valve - providing minor complications?
Firstly you have to put it in the casualty's mouth the right way up. Or you'll be sucking air out.
Secondly: won't the valve prevent air escaping from the lungs (if you've got a good seal!)? Presumably you'll have to ungrip the nose for a rapid evacuation. It's still the easy part compared to the chest compressions.
Res-cue Mask
This is the SJA (or SJS?) cheap pocket-mask. Made to fit adults one way up and children the other, it looks to be a leap ahead of the other devices.
It is more costly, and very bulky compared to the 'sheet' items above, but is still a single-use item. But does come in it's own carry-case - looks good and is quick to open.
There are other, fancier, designs with filters, oxygen ports and all sorts, but they're much pricier. Possibly better made, they're ideal for full-timers who use them a lot. But how often do you do CPR?
2020: Happy Birthday 2019 Standard
BS8599-1:2019 is over one year old - and now fully in effect.
BS8599-1 was updated in January 2019. The years grace is up, ready or not.
