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Post by kharma on Jun 9, 2007 14:38:03 GMT 1
i have just picked my son up from a birthday party at Dudley Castle and whilst i was waiting a woman rushed past me with a little girl. Concerned i followed her in to see the little girl (15 mths old) fitting on the floor. At first i thought she must have epilepsy before realising the mother was really distressed, having first aid qualifications i checked the childs temperature and suggested cooling her off, the staff at dudley castle didn't seem to have any first aider on site and flatly told me that she should be left untill the paramedics arrived. Annoyed i waited outside and cleared a path for the paramedic when he arrived. I collected Alex and went back to see how the girl was getting on only to find the paramedic taking the little girls clothe off to cool her down as she had a febrile convulsion. I have never seen anything so scary and having three little children it has disturbed me greatly and i really needed to moan about the dudley castle staff!!!!!  Jo |
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Post by evadarkness on Jun 9, 2007 20:05:26 GMT 1
No place that allows public in like that should be without first aiders. In fact, I am sure under Health and Safety anywhere with more than a certain number of employees has to have an Appointed Peson on staff.
That is truly shameful
ED.
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Mel
Newbie
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Post by Mel on Jun 9, 2007 20:45:25 GMT 1
These are the current HSE guidelines for First aid cover.......
Category of risk Numbers employed at any location Suggested number of first-aid personnel
Lower risk Fewer than 50 At least one appointed person
e.g. shops and offices, libraries 50-100 At least one first aider
More than 100 One additional first aider for every100 employed
Medium risk Fewer than 20 At least one appointed person
e.g. light engineering and assembly work, food processing, warehousing, 20-100 At least one first aider for every 50 employed (or part thereof)
More than 100 One additional first aider for every100 employed
Higher risk Fewer than five At least one appointed person
e.g. most construction, slaughter houses, chemical manufacture, 5-50 At least one first aider
extensive work with dangerous machinery or sharp instruments More than 50 One additional first aider for every 50 Employed
So... there should have been at least one appropriatley qualified person availbale......... is not, then Dudley Castle are in serious s***.
Anyway.... you deserve a big round of applause..... well done!!
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Post by gwenifer on Jun 9, 2007 22:30:38 GMT 1
We have 4 at the Botanical gardens, in two situations, one in reception and one roaming that means either the study centre or the nursery/propagation sheds. That means that anywhere in the gardens there can be a first aider with you in a matter of a few minutes. I agree with your worries, looking at our site and the much greater size of Dudley zoo and castle I too am apalled there was no on site first aider!!
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Post by wyrdewood on Jun 14, 2007 20:32:28 GMT 1
Well done Jo! It's a shame you weren't listened to, but sadly all too common. The other problem I have come across is first aiders who, when the time comes, can't deal with a situation. Some years back, a man fell through the glass doors of the branch, I was managing, and had an epileptic fit on the floor.  The first aiders in the branch froze like rabbits stuck in car headlights and I had to step in. Luckily, I used to work in an A&E dept (back when they were called casualties) and knew what to do. My point is that, even with training, there is no guarantee that when the time comes the right procedure is followed. Are first aiders tested in real situations nowadays? A stint in A&E would sort that one out. In this case, I think they (Dudley Castle staff) were very lucky it didn't end in tragedy. Again, Well done. |
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Post by hexx on Jun 16, 2007 20:14:26 GMT 1
It is shameful that the staff at Dudley zoo reacted so badly, I have just this week finish a 4 day first aid at work course and found the the subject fascinating. I was thinking about joining st Johns ambulance to keep the training fresh anyone have any ideas how they would react to someone of my beliefs joining them being a Christian organization.
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Post by Butterfly on Jun 16, 2007 21:53:13 GMT 1
My middle daughter Jade has just joined St Johns Ambulance, above all i'm hoping she makes some friends, and learns something valuable in the process...x Booo 2 Dudley Zoo..!!
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Post by gwenifer on Jun 16, 2007 22:25:51 GMT 1
I wouldn't have thought it would make a difference what religion you were, I went to St Johns as a child and I was never asked if I was christian! Then I went to Red Cross, 'cos they had way better camps and did more events...........
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Post by eva on Jun 16, 2007 23:26:07 GMT 1
It sounds like they need to be reported or at least warned at the highest level that they are not meeting a HSE requirement!  I do hope the little girl is ok. It would have been so much more comforting to the mother, had the staff allowed you to use your knowledge and skills while they waited for the paramedic!  |
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Post by eva on Jun 16, 2007 23:28:23 GMT 1
It is shameful that the staff at Dudley zoo reacted so badly, I have just this week finish a 4 day first aid at work course and found the the subject fascinating. I was thinking about joining st Johns ambulance to keep the training fresh anyone have any ideas how they would react to someone of my beliefs joining them being a Christian organization. Just seen your post - I agree with Gwenifer that they won't mind about beliefs or background. Many of the people who are in St John's aren't Church goers or religious at all; I think it was just set up by a Church organisation originally. The more people involved and trained, the better. You also get to go to concerts etc free when on duty!  Just editing to say that there's definitely nothing about religious affiliation on their site - they trace their history to Jerusalem 900 years ago! www.sja.org.uk/sja/ |
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Post by Butterfly on Jun 17, 2007 9:40:09 GMT 1
yeah my daughter did notice the free concerts bit!!!
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Post by kharma on Jun 18, 2007 20:37:26 GMT 1
i was in the Guides but a couple of my friends were in 'St John' Ambulance and regularly went to to the cinema's and concerts and stuff free  Was so jelous Lifeguard training is also really good fun, i went on to become a fully qualified lifeguard when i was sixteen and it lead to my first official job!!! sounds cool aswell. Jo |
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Mel
Newbie
Posts: 38
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Post by Mel on Jun 21, 2007 13:21:20 GMT 1
.
I'm an officer in St John Ambulance and have been in it since 1992. Historically, it is a Christian organisation with links the Knights Templar and all that. But honestly, these days most members don't go to church and aren't staunch Christians. Plus the fact we welcome members of all faiths etc so being Pagan is not an issue on an organisational basis......... it will only be an issue if you get some idiot making it so, but then again, that can happen anywhere.
So, look in to it........ I thoroughly enjoy it
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ursidae
Spends too much time here
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Post by ursidae on Jun 21, 2007 15:59:26 GMT 1
I'm going to make myself very unpopular here.
Under HSE guidelines a company or organisation has no responsibility to provide first aid cover for any visitors to it's site - it is only advised to cover them in it's provision.
And yes this is in published literature from the HSE. As the only first aider at my workplace I completed a full audit for them as we recently expanded and needed to assess cover we needed - leading to 2 more people being trained this month.
I agree it is appalling that the staff did not help and seemed happy to wait for the paramedics....however I also balance that against the fear of what would happen if they did something wrong and made the situation worse.
Cite them for poor judgement if you will, I certainly do...but don't mistakenly cite them for breaking the law - they didn't.
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Post by admin on Jun 21, 2007 16:41:47 GMT 1
Good points Ursidae.
I recall that when I did my first aid course, we were offered the chance to join St. John Ambulance, as their members automatically have a few million pounds worth of public liability insurance. We were advised not to do first aid on members of the public without it! What a crap world we live in where trying to save someone's life could get you sued!
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The first aiders in the branch froze like rabbits stuck in car headlights and I had to step in. Luckily, I used to work in an A&E dept (back when they were called casualties) and knew what to do. My point is that, even with training, there is no guarantee that when the time comes the right procedure is followed. Are first aiders tested in real situations nowadays? A stint in A&E would sort that one out. In this case, I think they (Dudley Castle staff) were very lucky it didn't end in tragedy.
I do hope the little girl is ok. It would have been so much more comforting to the mother, had the staff allowed you to use your knowledge and skills while they waited for the paramedic! 
Was so jelous 