Category: First Aid

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First Aid mental health

Life after a stroke

A stroke occurs when there is a blood clot or bleeding in a blood vessel, blocking blood flow to the brain. It can affect people of any age and can cause long-term complications. Recovery is possible but depends on the stroke’s severity and a person’s overall health.

Life can instantly change after having a stroke, physically and mentally. It also can change everyone surroundings your life too as thing may have to change and people will have to adapt. Changes to your physical ability will depend on which portion of the brain was damaged and how much. Some of the most common physical damage caused by stroke include incontinence, problems with swallowing or eating, weakness or paralysis. Nerve damage can cause difficulty with exercise or physical activity, too. Many caregivers find that their loved ones will need to be in an assisted living facility to receive full-time care. Stroke patients often benefit from physical therapy or speech therapy that helps increase strength and mobility as well as the patient’s ability to care for themselves in the future. Due to the physical difficulties that you can experience after a stroke, many patients suffer from depression or feelings of sadness due to their limited physical abilities. Overcoming the physical pain and weakness that can come after a stroke may make it difficult to sleep or take pleasure in activities that they enjoyed in the past. Problem-solving, depth perception, and performing certain movements can be limited as the brain struggles to determine how to work around damage that happens to the brain after a stroke.  When your loved one is suffering from the long-term effects of a stroke, caregivers may find themselves wondering how they will be able to manage to support all of their needs. A very common question that arises after having a stroke is “will it happen again? Many of the stroke survivors we speak to talk of the crippling anxiety and worry that comes with having a stroke and often ask, “could I have another stroke and what if it is more severe next time?” Here are our top tips to deal with the fear of having another stroke.

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First Aid

Less than 1 in 10 people survive a cardiac arrest, lets do something about that!

The NHS Ambulance Services treat approximately 30 000 patients a year for out of hospital cardiac arrest. And with around 70 per cent of cardiac arrests taking place in the home and half being witnessed by a bystander, quick intervention could mean the difference between life and death for a family member or friend. The bigger issue is only 40% of people receive bystander CPR in the UK. Defibrillation within 3–5 minutes of collapse can produce survival rates up to 50–70%. Each minute of delay reduces the probability of survival to hospital discharge by 10%. Research suggests that using a defibrillator within the first 3-5 minutes of cardiac arrest improves those chances of survival by 50-70%. Furthermore, immediate AED treatment can have a survival rate of 90-95%. Clearly the quicker the patient gets treatment, the better. Therefor its important we all feel confident with using one before we must in real life. Early recognition is essential for a successful outcome. The quicker a bystander does CPR the better response, the first 4 minutes is key. If defib is available, you want to be getting that as soon as you notice the arrest. And remember to call 999. Having an AED close at hand improves your survival chance, from 5% with CPR alone, to a convincing 75%.

Recently during a Euro 2020 match, a footballer collapsed on the pitch and went into Cardiac Arrest, however the quick thinking of players and medics to perform CPR and utilise a defibrillator have saved his life. Without this quick intervention, the player may not have survived. Unfortunately, a lack of knowledge and confidence in how to handle cardiac arrest means many bystanders fail to act. CPR is amongst the simplest and most important of all first aid skills, but should someone experience cardiac arrest, use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can boost their chances of survival much more than CPR alone. An AED cannot be effective without good-quality CPR, but conversely, CPR alone is very unlikely to restore normal heart function. Without CPR by bystanders until the arrival of emergency services, even if they are summoned promptly, chances of survival are vanishingly small. The target response time for NHS ambulances is 7 minutes. Even if this is achieved, by 7 minutes without oxygen permanent brain damage has often already occurred, as brain cells begin shut down after 4-6 minutes. In most circumstances, after ten minutes without oxygen, brain cells cease to function altogether, resulting in death or severe neurological damage. Therefore, it’s so important for everyone to be trained first aid, especially emergency first aid. it is also vital to understand that if someone is in cardiac arrest and needs CPR, it is impossible to make things worse for them, by breaking their ribs for example. Correct CPR often does crack ribs. However, if somebody is unresponsive and not breathing, they are effectively dead and have absolutely zero chance of recovery without first aid and/or medical attention. If bystanders do cause injuries to the casualty during CPR, they cannot get into legal trouble for doing so.

A Resuscitation Council Report suggests that only 30-40% of cardiac arrest victims receive CPR by bystanders, and ultimately only 8% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims survive to be discharged from hospital. AED use is even rarer used in just 2% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. AEDs are now found in many public places, but many people lack the knowledge and confidence to seek them out and use them. Every minute that goes by without defibrillation lowers survival chances by 10% for those with a shockable heart rhythm. However, early administration of CPR combined with an AED can raise survival chances to as high as 40%!

It’s a great skill to know, feel confident that you could help someone. It could be one of your family members or friends that you’re helping.

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First Aid

What It’s like to be a small business in 2022

99% of businesses are Small or Medium Sized businesses

One stop safety training solution is a small business based in Castleford. We specialise in first aid training, driver cpc, food safety, fire safety, mental health awareness and much more.

Some of the best parts of been a small business is, the close customer relationship you can build. We have loyal and satisfied customers where they help us, and we help them. There are many advantages to be a small business. Just like how you become closer to you clients, you are closer to majority of employees too, therefore everyone can work together.

More advantages are independence, Lifestyle. Owning a small business gives you certain lifestyle advantages, learning opportunities, local and loyal clients and Creative freedom and personal satisfaction. As rewarding as this is, there are some challenges we face as a small business too (I’m sure some of you will relate). Financial risk and having a good cash flow, stress of managing everything, undesirable jobs, uncontrollable factors that may have impact on your business this can lead to lack of motivation.

Owning a business also means going through more uncertainty than when you’re in full-time employment. You’re not guaranteed to find new gigs or to have your products accepted by your target market, which can lead to financial problems. Of course, even if you’re employed, you never have one hundred per cent job security either, since things can change at any moment. So, if your dream is to build and grow your own venture, don’t let this hold you back from achieving all your goals, if you put the work in you will always be in the place you need to be at that current time.

A large business enjoys brand recognition wherever it goes. Think of giants like Coca-Cola and Apple, which are known nearly everywhere in the world. A small company won’t have the brand recognition it requires to easily gain more customers small businesses suffer from less visibility, and this poses a serious challenge for them when it comes to attracting new traffic and expanding their operations. Budgets can be small for us, especially when it comes to advertising, this is and important part of getting new clients but can be expensive.

Meeting other small business and sharing ideas and connections is so useful, you can do this by meetings, networking, social media and collaborating. We have found networking useful. Always fun and interactive, meeting other businesses. So helpful, you always see everyone helping each other get work.

With most businesses in the UK been a small/medium sized business it’s important to have each other’s back, as that will be a huge chunk of the working population. With 2022 been some people’s toughest one yet with the increase of the cost of living helping each other strive is key.

Thank you for reading,

One stop safety training solution

 

 

 

Categories
First Aid mental health

A shocking 8 out of 10 people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or have obesity

There is a clear link with a person’s health and weight, many people that are overweight in the UK will more than likely suffer with their health because of being overweight. Excess weight, especially obesity, diminishes almost every aspect of health, from reproductive and respiratory function to memory and mood. Obesity increases the risk of several debilitating, and deadly diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.

Some main illnesses that can be causes by obesity

 

. High blood pressure (hypertension).

 

. High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides (dyslipidaemia).

 

. Type 2 diabetes.

 

. Coronary heart disease.

 

. Stroke

 

. Gallbladder disease

 

. Osteoarthritis (a breakdown of cartilage and bone within a joint).

 

. Sleep apnea and breathing problems.

 

. Different types of cancer

 

. Low quality of life

 

Mental illness such as clinical depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders.

 

Body pain and difficulty with physical functioning

 

Decreasing your weight will decrease your risk of developing theses health problems

 

Type 2 Diabetes is one of the most common diseases you can develop from obesity, some of the first signs of diabetes are:

. Hunger and fatigue. Your body converts the food you eat into glucose that your cells use for energy.

. Peeing more often and being thirstier

. Dry mouth and itchy skin

. Blurred vision

 

Not all cases of diabetes are caused by been overweight, what are the different types of diabetes?

 

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas, where insulin is made. It’s unclear what causes this attack. About 10 percent of people with diabetes have this type.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin, and sugar builds up in your blood.

Prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar is higher than normal, but it’s not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar during pregnancy. Insulin-blocking hormones produced by the placenta cause this type of diabetes.

So many people struggle with weight or body image in today’s society obesity is just one of many.

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First Aid

Did you know 7 out of 10 parents in the UK lack the first aid skills that would allow them to help their child in a medical emergency?

Why should you do a paediatric first aid course?

 

Knowing first aid is a valuable life skill, it helps you deal with possibly extremely difficult situations. You become more confident, risk aware and equip them with skills to keep themselves safe and help themselves or others if involved in a medical emergency. It could save a life.The course is ideal for the likes of teachers, nursery nurses, parents,nannies and childminders. Or anyone who is surrounded by children often or daily.

 

The importance of knowing paediatric first aid.

  • Every year more than 67,000 children experience an accident in the kitchen,

  • 21% of parents don’t view knowing first aid as being important and 59% wouldn’t feel confident enough to try to save a life,

  • Every year 58,000 children have accidents on the stairs,

  • Each year more than 28,000 children receive treatment for poisoning or suspected poisoning accidents,

  • Each year, around 10 children die as a result of falling.

Children are more vulnerable than us adults. Therefore we have a duty of care to look after them when in need. Especially in a workplace environment. Accidental injuries are a major health problem throughout the United Kingdom. To give you some indication of just how serious they are, accidental injury actually accounts for one of the most common causes of death in children over 1 years of age. Following, More than 2 million children under the age of 15 experience accidents in and around the home

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First Aid

Did you know a Stroke strikes every five minutes in the UK alone?

The injury to the brain caused by a stroke can lead to widespread and long-lasting problems. Stroke is a type of cerebrovascular disease, which is one of the leading causes of death in the UK. Stroke accounts for roughly 75% of deaths from cerebrovascular diseases. Meaning is the 4th biggest killer in the UK, on average 1 in 6 people will suffer a stroke in their lifetime.  Strokes are not always fatal but can have a huge and challenging recovery ahead for the individual. This can be extremely difficult for the families as well as the patient as they may need constant care for a very long period of their life, even the rest of their life. Stroke is sudden and unexpected and, with little or no time to prepare, it can take a huge physical, mental, and emotional toll on the families of stroke survivors. Some potential changes that can happen are your loved one’s personality, mood and health can suddenly be very different to before. Some of these things are anxiety, Aphasia, Cognitive difficulties, Depression, Dysarthria (slurred speech), Incontinence, Frustration and Seizures following stroke.

 

Do you know the signs and symptoms of someone having a stroke?

Balance (loss of balance, headache, and dizziness)

Eyes (Blurred vision)

Face (one side of face is drooping)

Arm (arm or leg weakness)

Speech (Speech difficulty)

Time to call an ambulance!

999

Did you know that Some people have a stroke without any symptoms?

The effects of a stroke will depend on how long the interruption is. A mini-stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) happens when the blood vessel is just temporarily blocked. The symptoms can go away within minutes as the blood supply returns and there might not be much permanent damage to the brain cells. A TIA can be a sign that a more serious stroke is on the way, so it is important to take them seriously and to seek help, even if the symptoms go away by themselves. About 4 in 10 people who have a TIA will go on to have a stroke.

 

Who is at risk or a stroke and can you help prevent it?

Anyone can have a stroke, but some of us are more likely to have one than others.

You are more likely to have a stroke if:

You smoke

Are overweight

Have high cholesterol

Drink a lot of alcohol

You have certain conditions such as diabetes or atrial fibrillation

Or have high blood pressure

 

Eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and enjoying a healthy lifestyle can help to lower many of these risks. Several underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, increase your risk of stroke. By keeping these conditions under control and managing them appropriately, you minimise that increased risk.

 

But a stroke can still happen to everyone and anyone. So, remember,

 

B E F A S T

 

Categories
First Aid

Can you believe only 4 out of 10 bystanders are prepared to give someone in need first aid?

An average of 460 cardiac arrest deaths each day or one every three minutes in the UK.

With how busy the ambulance service is, it is key to perform first aid if you see someone in need. Especially when Someone is experiencing a cardiac arrest, as in the UK its one of the leading causes of death. If everyone attempted first aid on the casualty a further 1000 people’s lives could be saved, when dealing with cardiac arrest victims. Only 7 – 8 per cent of people on where resuscitation is attempted manage to survive to leave hospital. However, survival can be increased to up to 40 per cent through the early use of CPR and defibrillators.

140’000 people die each year in the UK from incidents where first aid could have possibly saved their lives.

First aid is a life skill and is very important everyone knows some form of first aid. The difference it can make to someone’s life is exceptional, Also the effectiveness of treatment made by the ambulance service when the casualty is passes over to their care. if a patient doesn’t receive basic first aid care immediately, their situation will often deteriorate rapidly. By being able to provide basic care, you can stabilise a patient until emergency medical services arrive.

Why do not a lot of people want to perform first aid?

Simple, most people choose to do nothing over the fear of being sued. Luckily the good Samaritans law protects bystanders. When performing first aid on a casualty that cannot reply, it is implied consent. Therefore, all bystanders are encouraged to help. Following that, people with breasts are more likely to die in a situation where they might survive if given CPR, because people are afraid to touch their chest area. On average only around 40% of woman will receive CPR when needed because of this reason. If CPR is carried out correctly then you will more than likely not even come into contact with the casualties’ breasts. Plus, your saving someone life which is more important. Don’t you think?

Personal reasons

Imagine it was a friend of a family member in need, and you can help. That could improve the severity of one’s injuries, speed up recovery time and most importantly save their life. Also learning first aid can improve your overall employability and job prospects. knowing how to physically move someone in pain, support their injuries and administer appropriate bandaging and dressings can also greatly reduce the amount of pain they experience. This is a handy skill to have as employers have a duty of care to have first aiders in the workplace.

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First Aid

The Importance of Knowing First Aid

First aid in Yorkshire
Emergency First aid in Leeds. Supporting businesses to train their employees to become compliant to perform first aid on site.

For many businesses, Emergency First Aid feels as though it is an aspect of staff development that is completed due solely to commercial obligations. On the contrary, it could be the smartest investment that a company makes all year. Now is the time for yours to finally give first aid the attention it deserves.

 

Why Emergency First Aid Matters

When your team is blessed with several employees that are trained in Emergency First Aid, it will deliver a wide range of benefits for the company, including;

  • Potentially save the lives of employees, customers, and visitors in emergency situations.
  • Improve staff morale and productivity by removing some of the potential safety fears.
  • Save money by avoiding lawsuits and dealing with emergencies in an efficient manner.
  • Gain peace of mind by knowing that people are safe and your human responsibilities are satisfied.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry, not least when lives are at stake. The fact that Emergency First Aid courses can support the cause should not be overlooked.

 

Key Learning Steps For First Aid Training 

Emergency First Aid will cover a wide range of exercises, such as understanding the recovery position and completing CPR. While multiple courses are available, most will focus on the five Rs:

  • Recognition of the root causes behind injuries and sudden illness.
  • Reaction to emergencies.
  • Response to situations that require First Aid.
  • Reporting and recording all relevant details associated with injuries.
  • Retaining professionalism and empathy at all times.

Students that cover all of those areas should be well equipped to deal with any future emergency situations. In turn, your business will reap the rewards of a safer working environment.

 

If you need help and support with first aid, or if your business needs first aiders trained, book on one of our many courses. at https://ossts.co.uk. Alternatively, call us on 01977 326092