#mentertraining

If popular legend is to be believed, we’re never more than six feet away from a rat. I guess this all depends on which pub you choose to frequent, or whether or not you’ve recently shared a football pitch with Liverpool striker Luis Suarez. But seriously, is there any truth in this commonly-held belief about rodents?

Apparently not. The BBC recently conducted a statistical survey to provide estimations of rats living outside and around houses, as well as in drains and sewers, and found rats to be living near 3% of homes. In turn this results in an estimation of 3.1 million rats living in urban areas in the UK, which when correlated with the corresponding land mass, results in 5,000 square metres for each rat.

So what does all this mean in Layman’s terms? In a nutshell, you’ll be delighted to know that you are actually more likely to be within 164ft of a rat whilst you are reading this. Unless you are reading this in a sewer, of course...

So now that we’ve dispelled that myth for you, let’s move on to first aid. First Aid is an extremely delicate area – after all, we’re talking about the first help given to a sick, ill or injured person. You would think, therefore, that the subject would be immune from the curse of the dreaded myth. Unfortunately not; here are 5 of the most common myths associated with first aid:

1. When someone is having a nosebleed, they should tilt their head back...

After all, this will make sure the blood stays in their body, so this must be a good thing. Right? Wrong! Tilting  a casualty’s head back when they are having a nosebleed may actually cause feelings of nausea, and can also induce vomiting. Whichever way you look at it, nausea and vomiting is a not a trendy look in 2013, so instead consider the correct method:

Sit the casualty down with head tipped forward, tell them to pinch their nostrils shut (on the soft part of the nose) and tell them to breathe through their mouths. If they are still bleeding after 30 minutes, the casualty will need to go to hospital

2. Someone who is having a heart attack should lie down...

I’m afraid not. Lying down can actually make it more difficult for the casualty to breathe. Instead, assist the casualty into a half-sitting position – ideally with their head and shoulders supported, and reassure them whilst emergency services are sent for.

3. If someone is choking, the best thing to do is get my fingers down their throat...

No chance! If you do this, you could push the obstruction further down the casualty’s throat. Instead, try to get the casualty to relax and encourage them to cough. If that doesn’t work, you may have to try back blows with the palm of your hand  - no more than x 5 between the shoulder blades. Still not cleared the obstruction? Okay, now it’s time to try abdominal thrusts (again, no more than 5). Be mindful, though – abdominal thrusts can cause damage to underlying organs, so anyone who’s been on the receiving end should be advised to have a check-up afterwards.

4. If someone is feeling faint, they should sit with their head between their legs...

No. Doing this is just increasing the likelihood of the casualty falling forward – which is not advisable! Instead, if someone faints allow them to lie down. Raise their legs to encourage blood-flow to the brain, and if possible let them have some fresh air.

5. The ambulance will be here now, in a minute...

The reality is that it doesn’t take one minute for an ambulance to arrive on the scene. Maybe if the paramedics were, by pure miracle, parked around the corner eating their packed lunches it could be a remote possibility – but let’s face it, what are the chances.

In Wales the target response times for Category A emergencies (the most serious kind of incidents) is 8 minutes, so this is what your ambulance will be aiming for. The most recent statistics show that in April, this target was met in only 57.2% of cases in Wales, with 90% of Category A incidents being met by the ambulance service within 20 minutes.

At Menter we regularly run first aid courses of all variety. Looking for a basic half day? No problems. Looking for a bit more in-depth, but not too full-on? Relax, we do one-day accredited emergency first aid courses, too!

Okay, so you’re looking for something a bit more in depth? That’s fine, we run accredited 3-day first aid at work programmes.

Ahh, you’d like to be able to deliver first aid training yourself? Maybe for your staff, or maybe you’re looking to become a freelance trainer? No sweat – just check out our 5-day train-the-trainer course, it could be just what you need.

Right, you work with children – can Menter help? Can Menter help?! Pfft!! ...of course we can!! Sounds like an accredited paediatric first aid course could be just what you’re looking for.

Either way, if you choose to train with us then you can guarantee there won’t be a myth in sight. Nor any rats for that matter.

Upcoming First Aid Courses

Level 3 First Aid At Work 

15 - 17 July 2013 

£100+VAT per person

First Aid Train The Trainer

07/08/09/10/18 October 2013 

Our mental health courses aim to raise awareness and capabilities of workers who encounter mental health within their employment. 

Upcoming Mental Health courses....

Introduction to Mental Health Difficulties - 03 June

Working Positively with Learning Difficulties - 21 June

Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults Level 3 - 02 July

Introduction to Acquired Brain Injury - 12 July

To book courses please contact us on 02920 099002 or [email protected]

Menter Training were delighted to attend the Social Health Care Expo on the 25th April at the Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff.

The Social Health Care Expo is an annual event in South Wales which targets “one workforce in one sector in one day.” Over 60 exhibitors were present to entertain and present to the 1000+ visitors throughout the day. The event was free to attend for care home owners, senior managers and health professionals which allowed them to engage with the providers of the latest innovations, products and services.

Menter Training were talking throughout the day with both our regular customers discussing the industry, the event and the future of our established relationship, but we also had a chance to meet plenty of new customers (hopefully!) who displayed an interest in sourcing their training with us, one or two of these have already been in contact to ensure we can help them with their own individual needs. We were able to get our core message and services across direct to the right people, those with the power to make purchasing decisions in the Social Health Care Sector in Wales.

Who should attend?

This course has been designed for workers within all sectors where there are requirements to use equipment when moving loads and /or people. 

Course Content

The course will cover:

·         Legislation

·         Basic anatomy of the spine

·         Risk assessment

·         Ergonomics

·         Benefit/consequences of manual handling

·         Modules A-F of the All Wales Passport Scheme

Benefits of the course

By attending this course learners will receive a great deal of information to allow them to carry out their roles within their workplaces, safely and efficiently.  This qualification is recognised throughout Wales.  Each learner will gain an understanding of using different pieces of equipment.

Assessment

Throughout the course, learners will have sessions of questions & answers, alongside activities and exercises.  Learners will complete a multiple choice test paper. Learners will also be assessed through the practical elements of the course.

Price

The cost of this course is £48 per person.  We are also able to provide an in house cost of the course if you were looking to get multiple learners at your own venue.

Do we have a website? 

WHY YES! We have a brand new one up and running with all of our course dates and information.

IOSH Certified Course

Menter has worked closely with the Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (IOSH) to develop a course which this prestigious awarding body was happy to put their name to.

The course is specifically designed to provide learners with the skills and knowledge required to deliver manual handling training to their own staff. It closely follows the principles outlined in modules A-F of the benchmark moving and handling standard in Wales – the All Wales Passport, and is therefore ideal for those wishing to deliver a high standard of moving and handling training to others.

Course Content

The course covers:

·         Teaching skills – To be able to train to an audience

·         Theory based information relating to the All Wales Passport Scheme

·         Practical elements relating to the All Wales Passport Scheme

·         Micro-teach

·         Examination

Benefits of the course

By attending this course learners will receive a great deal of information to enable them to train in-house to their own employees. The course will provide the learners with a training pack to equip them with the ability to produce their own training courses.

On successful completion of the course each delegate will receive an IOSH accredited Train The Trainer certificate.

Assessment

Throughout the course, learners will have sessions of questions & answers, alongside activities and exercises. Learners will also produce a micro-teach session, risk assessment and complete an examination paper.