As part of the ongoing training undertaken by section leaders of both Newport Scouts and Newport Guides, a number of first aid courses have been held this year to allow the leaders to continue in their positions.
These courses include the First Aid at Work re-qualification training. The initial course takes four days to complete, following the guidelines of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). For this to remain valid you have to attend a two day refresher course every three years.
So the time came for a number of Scouters and Guiders to undertake the refresher!
An early start on a Saturday morning saw most of us a little blurry eyed and in need of that all important cup of tea that was waiting for us when we arrived.
Then followed several practices on our favourite patient - Resusci Anne and numerous question and answer sheets, then the fun really began with recovery position, bandage and sling practice! It's not easy to put a sling on a patient lying on the floor.
Eventually, the training team had had enough and sent us home with our homework and reminding us it was a 9.00am start on Sunday morning. (Why do we do it?)
We were greeted on Sunday morning with the essential cup of tea/coffee followed in short order by the first of three formal assessments of the day - the written paper.
Next came the last minute resuscitation practise before the afternoon session, this involved a practical assessment of resuscitation and casualty assessment and treatment.
Fortunately we all passed the assessments that were undertaken by nationally recognised assessors.
A Big thanks to all of the First Aid Training team and the assessors that allow Newport Scouts and Guides to continue to provide the leaders, supporters and youth members, with Nationally recognised industry standard Emergency Aid training thought the year and for keeping scouting in Newport risk-free!