Andrew Barras Coaching

30/06/2025

I was delivering a First Aid Incident Management course to members of Pirates Canoe Club on Saturday. During our 6+ hours, we went through 17 different scenarios.
The objectives of this course are to:-
1. Apply their first aid skills to a paddlesport environment.
2. Practice working through incidents from the onset through to resolution. Does the exit strategy make sense given the location and what has just happened?
Well done to all those who took part.
If you belong to a paddling community that would like to know more about this training, then call me on 07999 700892 or email info@decisivefirstaid.co.uk

09/05/2025

So last weekend it was great to work with members of Baldock Canoe Club on their 2-day Activity First Aid course. Nice work.
The resuscitation sequence of photos, and video shows the importance of managing the airway, getting 5 rescue breaths in, asap, and then pumping the oxygenated blood up to the brain. You can do successful chest compressions over the top of a pdf (if the patient is on firm ground) but it's better get the heel of one hand underneath and on to the sternum so that you know the pressure is being applied in the correct place.
Some of the other photos shows the teamwork for a trauma incident:- completing the primary survey, prioritising the treatments, keeping the patient warm, and getting help.

27/02/2025

What an honour! I was at Lee Valley White Water Centre delivering Activity First Aid training, tailored to paddlesport. One of the candidate's was non-other than Mallory Franklin ...double Olympian, a Silver Medalist from Tokyo, and 7x gold medalist from various world championships.
Photos from my course to follow shortly.

07/11/2024

Great to see this initiative.
For those who teach First Aid to paddlesport groups it would be good to highlight this resource. We have all made mistakes in the past, hopefully learned massively from them, so this facility will help anyone reporting an incident or near miss to access support if necessary, but also allow the Governing Bodies spot trends and offer guidance.

Paddle UK, the British Stand Up Paddleboard Association, and Surfing England have launched a new, collaborative online incident reporting system for paddlesport. The system aims to create a…

28/10/2024

It was great to work with Herts Canoe Club over the previous two Saturdays. Six of their members completed an Ofqual regulated Activity First Aid course. The benefit of this 2 day training course is that optional additional time can be given over to scenarios on the water.
In this scenario, a paddler has a fractured lower leg, river levels are rising, so the paddler needs to be moved but in a safe and controlled way.
Two SAM splints and vetwrap are used to stabilise the injury.
A sling is used by two paddlers to help keep the injured leg off the ground as the patient shuffles up the path away from the water's edge.
If you would like to know how Decisive First Aid could deliver first aid training for your sports club then call on 01462 379879 to discuss your requirements.

02/09/2024

Love the teamwork being demonstrated by members of Whitstable Canoe Club during their 2 day Activity First Aid course. The course was run on consecutive Saturdays and we allocated some extra time to go out on the water. By doing some extra scenarios in their environment they can apply to Paddle UK for some CPD points. Well done to all those who took part. Apologies for not having my camera on the water or for when the mannequins were dressed up in paddling kit...... but I was rather occupied at the time!

10/06/2022

Photos from the course will follow shortly!
😀😀😀😀

Today is a momentous day for my fledgling business. It’s been hard work for 3 years but for the first time I’ll be delivering an Aquatic First Aid course and a bespoke Incident Management course to a customer based overseas.
When Sea Kayaking Estonia got in touch, there was of course an initial buzz of excitement which was followed by hours of research. The courses that Seakayakingestonia wanted weren’t available from local providers so they challenged me to see if I could make it happen.
I finally got the kit pared down to an essential 30kg, and packed to survive the rigors of baggage handlers. Now that everything is laid out and ready to go, I can’t tell you how excited I am to be running these courses. What an idyllic spot to have a classroom.

02/03/2020

02/03/2020

Well done to those at Hampton Canoe Club who completed there 16 hour Aquatic First Aid course. I particularly enjoyed going out onto the water to run through some scenarios with you. After February's rainfall it was fast flowing. Nice paddling skills and well done on the First Aid.

02/03/2020

Well done to all those at Hampton Canoe Club who successfully completed there 16 hour Aquatic First Aid course. I particularly enjoyed our time on the Thames running through some paddlesport based scenarios. After February's rainfall the Thames was quite challenging. You did well! Thanks for a great two days.

03/02/2020

Please note that courses can now be booked through www.DecisiveFirstAid.co.uk or call to arrange for me to come to your club.

Decisive First Aid provides first aid courses in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Quality, consistency, and value for money are at the forefront of everything we do.

03/02/2020