FirstAid4Me.Training

14/04/2025

Delivered back to back Nav workshops for the members of HCUK this weekend, 12 lovely peeps with a new skill under their belts.

We progressed beyond the basic nav syllabus covering all of the following.

-What is a map?
-Scale and measuring distance.
-4/6/8 figure grid references.
-Contours and features.
-Intro to the degrees SILVA compass.
-Orientating the map without and with a compass.
-pacing.
-Plotting a magnetic and grid bearing.
-Locating features on the ground from using a magnetic bearing.
-Handrails and collecting features.
All put together with a micro Nav exercise in the Padley Gorge area.

Everyone did exceptionally well.

26/12/2024

Red 1 and Red 2 had a cracking Xmas day in the peaks. Starting with an organised group walk, then took a group myself onto another 5-6km loop, finishing with 3 of us taking in a short lunch time loop to finish.

Cracking day and even arranged a Nav course into the new year.

10/11/2024

Another weekend, another workshop. This weekend I delivered a Basic Nav workshop to a small group.

Each attendee went from having little to no experience, to been able to navigate comfortably and confidently parts of a route.

Each put into practice, map orientation, measuring distance, pacing and time, collecting features, also showing confidence by delivering a ground brief to the remainder.

Well done

03/11/2024

Took a small group today for an intermediate Nav workshop. Conditions were ideal with visibility down on higher ground, making it a little bit more challenging.

They all came away with that little bit more knowledge and experience than they started with.

Looking forward to the longer nights for some quality night nav courses.

02/10/2024

Another string to the bow. I’ve just completed the Bushcraft trainers 2 day course with The Wilderness Project, part of the learn outdoors.

https://wilderness-project.org/?_ga=2.118028748.453075434.1727870253-1956882773.1727870253

Covering:

- Knife, tool safety and current UK regulations regarding the carriage of knives
- First Aid equipment
- Varied types of fire woods and wood processing
- Shelter building
- Knots
- Bushcraft camp admin and setup
- Fire safety with groups of adults, young adults and children
- Fire starting by;
Ferro rod
Wire wool and battery
Flint and steel
Bow drill
and magnifying glass
- the use of char-cloth, different Tinder bundles and amber extenders
- Making a bow drill and best wood to use
- Reducing ground sign and post fire procedure
- Food foraging and safety with the accumplished author Gavin Ireland - (books are available from Amazon)
- How to make camp fire bread and other cooking ideas
- making char-cloth, a fantastic product for fire starting.
- Knife, axe sharpening and tool maintenance, as well as other woodcraft fun activities outdoors.

There was such an amazing group of participants from a Welsh youth organisation, as well as Lee Callaghan ‘Outsider Tank’ an ex serviceman from the Royal Regiment of Wales , he’s well worth a look and follow on YouTube, if you all could give his channel a boost.

https://youtu.be/HAV9lsQN5-k?si=EpRe71mmZd3EBG5V

In summary a fantastic course well worth the time and money. Going forward I will be looking at putting on some bushcraft events in the near future.

29/07/2024

I’m pleased to announce that as of 1st October I will be rolling out a series of Bushcraft/survival taster sessions.

Initially concentrating on Fire, shelter, food and water.

23/06/2024

Take it easy out there this week.

A yellow heat-health alert will be issued for most of England from 08:00 BST on Monday.

21/06/2024

Cautions for hot weather day hikers.

* Pace yourself.

* Don't try to keep up with hikers who push hard and go fast in hot weather: hike your own sensible hike.

* Take your water breaks seriously. Set a timer on your watch if necessary to be sure you're drinking frequently.

* Carry salty snacks but avoid loading up on a lot of food all at once.

* Use the long days of summer to start your hike in the cool of early, early morning or late afternoon.

* Choose your route and destination to avoid blazing direct sunlight whenever possible.

* This sounds really simplistic, but wear this style of wide brimmed hat with full coverage of your face, ears and neck.

* Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every few hours because you're losing it to sweat and the application of the aforementioned towel.

26/03/2024

Despite being active all year round, Ticks are more active in April - June and sometimes August in the UK.

Infected Ticks can transmit Lyme disease.

Follow the link for the NHS website page.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/

How to spot and remove ticks.

- Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool. You can buy these from some pharmacies, vets and pet shops.

- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.

- Slowly pull upwards, taking care not to squeeze or crush the tick.

-Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water.

The same treatment should be used on your pets, so regularly check them also as you would check yourself.

25/03/2024

Went from messing around with some green paracord to something a little more creative, matches her collar 😎

25/03/2024

https://www.facebook.com/stories/1804157416326046/UzpfSVNDOjc4NzIxNDU4NjI4MTM1MzI=/?view_single=1&source=shared_permalink

Always a good sign to be appreciated.

25/03/2024

I had the pleasure of delivering a Navigation workshop this weekend for members of in the Surprise view, Stanage and Padley gorge area of the Peak District.

Totally different weather on both days, from hale, sleet and rain on Saturday to blue skys and glorious sunshine on the Sunday.

Those attending learnt about;
- Different types of map and map scale.
- 4 and 6 fig grid references.
- Measuring distance on a map.
- contours and features.
- orientation of the map to ground, using both features and the silva compass.
- The silva compass and use of the Roma.
- Pacing.
- catching/collecting features and the use of handrails.

The group then went through a series of micro navigation exercises using catching/collecting features and handrails. After a short stop for a brew, they then in pairs, successfully navigated a 3.5km set route back to surprise view putting everything they had learnt into practice.

A successful and enjoyable day.