Worsley Training

06/11/2025

My quarterly 'First Aid Fix' may have just landed in your inbox? If not, you can click to read it below.

It summarises the key changes in first aid protocols that were in The Resuscitation Council UK guidelines, issued last week, and my thoughts about them.

Updated protocols - infant chest compressions / thrusts and adult defibrillator pad placement

03/11/2025

Remember, remember, first aid in November!

The fun and excitement of Guy Fawkes night is this week, but burns and scalds are amongst the most serious and painful of injuries.

History has proven time and again that prevention is always better than cure, so here are a few of my top tips to stay safe, followed by how to deal with burn injuries if things don’t quite go to plan.

If you plan to light your own fireworks:

🔹️Always buy them from a reputable shop and check they conform to British standards
🔹️Have a first aid kit, bucket of sand, plenty of water and a fire blanket to hand
🔹️Keep fireworks in a closed box and never in your pocket
🔹️Only use one firework at a time
🔹️Light fireworks at arm’s length and stand well back
🔹️Remember to keep cigarettes, candles and other flames away from any fireworks
🔹️Finally, never return to a firework that’s already been lit – stay well clear!

Sparklers are mesmerising and children love to wave them around writing their name in the air. But sparklers burn very powerfully and the metal handle heats up dramatically once they are lit.

So be sensible and always ensure that children are wearing gloves when holding them or stick the end into a carrot for them to hold. Once they have burnt out, place them in a bucket of sand. Finally make sure you don’t let anyone touch them until they are completely cool.

What to do if someone does get burnt? Read my short blog for the latest advice - https://worsleytraining.co.uk/burns/

We are off to Bonfire Night at our kids' school on Wednesday. Are you watching any fireworks this week?

30/10/2025

The Resuscitation Council UK 2025 guidelines are also now published and one of the main points to note is that they have clarified what we have been teaching for a while now about Defibrillator pad placement.

Many people think, and many of the diagrams on the pads show, that the lower pad goes on the side of the tummy, whereas actually it should be just below the armpit.

These diagrams from the guidelines show the correct positioning and also this RCUK video explains the change - https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1ATL1E8UJ2/

If you saw my post last week about using the two-thumb encircling technique for chest compressions and thrusts on babies, then I can confirm that this has also been recommended in the UK guidelines.

Even though it's half term, every day is a school day!!

27/10/2025

I have been working with in Whitchurch for many years, teaching a range of courses, multiple times.

It started with the 2 day Outdoor First Aid to their Duke of Edinburgh Award leaders, which enabled us to co-deliver a series of first aid workshops followed by practical scenarios for the Award participants, both of which have been successfully repeated.

We also regularly teach the 6 hour Emergency First Aid at Work course to the rest of the school staff, to ensure the pupils are in safe hands both in the classrooms, out on the sports fields and on the many school trips.

As an ex-secondary school geography and outdoor education teacher, working with schools is my comfort zone. Three of my associate trainers, Angie, Matt and Carolyn, have also delivered courses at Testbourne when I have been busy, so we've built a solid client relationship.

Therefore, I really appreciated this recommendation from the assistant head, Richard Wilson, after his latest renewal course.

23/10/2025

The European Resuscitation Council 2025 guidelines were released yesterday.

There were no major changes to the current protocols, but one to note for any paediatric first aiders, is that chest compressions and chest thrusts on babies should now be delivered using a two-thumb encircling method (see images).

The UK Resuscitation Council guidelines will be released next week, which is when we change what we teach (assuming they follow suit), so I'll share more updates as I see them .....

20/10/2025

We are very proud sponsors of the U14 Marlborough Rugby Stags, especially after watching their 35-29 win over Salisbury yesterday, in classic wet and miserable conditions up on the common. Go Stags!

Also a shout out to the other sponsors of this talented team - , , , , Gastro Nicks Ltd and WG Bulk Logistics LTD.

Our son wasn't a very willing model before the game (even though he is the only one to have his name on his back!) but our 2 spaniels wanted to get in the photos - can you spot them?!

16/10/2025

Today is Restart a Heart Day 💓

The aim of the campaign is to teach life-saving CPR to as many people as possible today.

So as I can't be everywhere in person today, please spare 5 minutes to watch this video of me teaching CPR to a women's networking group, to refresh your knowledge.

I've cut it just before giving the reasons why you would stop doing CPR. What do you think they are?

13/10/2025

Is anyone else being bombarded by real and/or fake LifeVac device adverts at the moment? Or is it just my algorithm? I also had an email last week from nursery asking if they should buy one?

They are suction-based devices to help someone who is choking and if you aren't aware of what I am talking about, then picture a fancy sink plunger and you will get the idea!

So I always refer to this page of the Resus Council's website - https://www.resus.org.uk/about-us/news-and-events/rcuks-position-use-suction-based-airway-clearance-devices-choking-individuals which states:

"Several suction-based airway clearance devices for the treatment of choking are now available in the UK. We do not currently support their use, as there is insufficient research and evidence on the safety or effectiveness of these devices. We are concerned that the use of these devices could delay established treatments for choking."

So the bottom line is that we still can't recommend that you buy one, but if you do succumb to the adverts, please remember that:

● they are not being marketed to replace back slaps and abdominal thrusts, but instead as an additional tool to try if the recommended techniques are not working / not possible.
● they can be used on an unconscious casualty

When I tried one on a choking manikin, it was tricky to operate by yourself, but with one person holding the mask tightly to make a seal on the face and another person operating the handle, then the simulated obstruction was cleared each time.

Further clinical research has been called for to assess the potential benefits and harms of these devices, but I expect them to be approved by RCUK in the future. Especially as LifeVac's own website https://www.lifevac.uk/ states that 4821 lives have already been saved by their use.

Have you heard of them or even seen one?

29/09/2025

❤️ It's World Heart Day ❤️

So here are the members of the White Horse (Rushall) WI making a heart sign last week, after I had just taught them how to do CPR and use a Defibrillator for their latest campaign - Bystanders can be Lifesavers!

The feedback was that my talk was 'very informative and our members found it extremely useful.'

The more communities that have confidence and training in these vital skills the better, so grab a group of neighbours, book your village hall and invite me along to run my Community Defibrillator session. Details at https://worsleytraining.co.uk/community-defibrillator-training/