Time to give blood! It's not that hard!

Today we're giving blood. It's been really hard to encourage anyone to join me from my neighbouring businesses. Kinda made me think about my own experiences from before I was a donor...

The first time I gave blood, I was scared out of my wits!

I didn't like needles, I'd never faced blood loss over a pin prick full, and frankly, didn't like the idea at all.

Previously, I thought "Why on earth should I let someone stick a needle in my arm, and take something like a pint of my blood? It's gross, it hurts, and frankly, it's not me."

Then, one evening, whilst watching TV, I saw the work of a hospital team, fighting to save the life of someone my own age. He was quite a mess. Pretty much touch and go. He'd lost a lot of blood.

But it's ok, right? You make your own blood, so he can replace it.

Wrong.

So extensive were his injuries and blood loss that blood needed to be provided, and quickly. He was going into a condition called 'shock'. His organs were shutting down, and the result of this is death.

Blood was placed directly inside him from a supply. At the end of the program, there was information on who to contact for blood donation - and I made the call.

That program made me think long and hard about the fears I had about donating.

I was a regular donor from then on in, primarily in Germany where I was based as a soldier, but, if the time frame was right, when I was in the UK, and met the criteria, I'd share a pint with the NHS Blood Service.

Wales, England and Germany have all had a bit of my O+!

Some years on, and coming back to the UK, it is without hesitation that I'll give my blood.

Rarely now whole blood is used, unless it's to replace lost blood. The Blood Service collects the blood, and splits it down as required -

so that's Red Cells, used for conditions such as anaemia, as well as to replace lost cells after an accident, or childbirth.

Platelets which are vital for patients being treated for cancer.

Plasma which is really important for many uses, including the treatment of people suffering from Haemophilia.

In some countries I've visited, before certain interactions are taken at hospital level - a check is made for insurance, or the ability to pay for treatment.

In the UK, this isn't the case. It doesn't matter what colour or creed you are, whether you are wealthy or poor, you will receive the same level of treatment from expert staff, committed to going above and beyond to save your life, and give you the best prospects for recovery.

The NHS Blood Service forma a very real part of this chain, and rely upon people to give their own blood to save others. It is a great gift, and, you don't have to look far to find someone who is alive today, thanks to every person in the system, from the donors giving time and blood, the WRVS and other voluntary sector people, the Nurses and Support Staff, the Lab staff, all the way through to the Practitioners holding the giving set.

So why give? If for no other reason than I'm giving into a system that will gladly give me blood if I need it, no matter if I'm a paid up member of the club or not.

But more than that, the sense that you are making a difference to the lives of others - in fact, the knowledge that you are, goes far beyond any reward that can be received in monetary value.

When I first donated, I received a small card book, with pages that would get stuck in... things have changed, and Plastic cards are now issued, denoting the progress of your donation level. Mine are sadly low - as most my blood has been given overseas - but I'm working on changing that!

So how do my experiences bare against my fears in the 90's when I first donated?

I couldn't have been more wrong.

The needles - well, just don't look at them. The staff are so good, you'll hardly feel it. The investment of about a pint, again, is hardly noticeable, and, with a couple of moments of rest after donating, some cookies, and a drink, you're right as rain!

Blood donation has come on a long way - even in the last 10 years. The new trailer I was in today had all the advancements of technology.

What's more, donating blood is now so me, and I encourage anyone, and everyone to be the same. One day, it could be you that needs it back!

For more information:

In England: www.blood.co.uk
In Wales: www.welsh-blood.org.uk
In Scotland: www.scotblood.co.uk
In NI: www.nibts.org


This blog post has been written by Centric First Aid Training ( www.centricuk.com ) however may not reflect the opinions or views of the company, and is no way authored  or a direct message from the NHS. Information is presented as is, and no responsibility is taken by either party for incorrect data. It is produced a opinion of an individual of their own personal experiences.

Stomach upsets due to stress, bereavement, or an emotional event.

Quite recently (today in fact) I experienced a very traumatic event. One which I've experienced before, far too many times.

Being quite good at compartmentalising myself, and needing to focus away slightly, I realised that today's events have given me something to blog about.

When we experience something mentally traumatic, many of us feel a pain deep down in our gut. A sort of discomfort.

Some people refer to this perhaps as butterflies, or 'the second brain doing the thinking'.

It happens to different people at different times. So, if you're charged with making a speech, or are about to go into an interview, it can strike. It's perhaps the nerves causing it.

For others it commonly occurs, when we're faced with a bereavement, relationship breakup, loss of a job or a friend, and then it hits, and boy does it smart.

I remember once having to visit a parent post a death of their child (an adult). There was no easy way to do it, and I knew their son well, and was there in an official capacity. Before visiting I must have smoked several cigarettes and drunk several cups of coffee - both of which are far from helpful. I parked up around the corner, and read the notes of what was appropriate to say, and what wasn't.

I felt like poop, and nothing could prepare me for what I was about to experience.

I entered the property, and understandably, the parents were very emotional, more so since I arrived. Their eldest son, in his 30's would be arriving shortly, and they were going to tell him face to face about his brothers death.

On his arrival, his parents were beside themselves, so, I had to tell him.

I will never forget him dropping to his knees and crying out 'It hurts' as he grasped his stomach sobbing, being comforted by his mum and dad.

I stayed some time longer, and sadly, and ashamedly never saw them again.

For days afterwards I felt very rough, again with this tightness of the stomach, whilst dealing with my own stress and emotions.

As the years progressed, and my work involved me dealing with death and the after affects more frequently, I became used to the feelings and emotions of strangers, or perhaps I was just better prepared, or in a better position to distance myself.

With friends and family, the feelings remain the same.

As relationships have failed, the same feeling is there. The disappointment, and loss of mutual plans and hope for the future is similar to a bereavement in many ways.

The same goes for stress - except, for many, the addition of adrenaline is made available through the bodies fight or flight response, and coping in the immediate time seems to be easier. The after effects of a stressful event can bring about all those feelings though - a result of 'Post Traumatic Stress'.

We have little choice but to cope with the situation life deals to us. But, there are a few things we can do to help us along the road to recovery. Yes. Recovery. Things will get better (They always do), even if during, and after the event, it doesn't seem that way.

Recovery can take hours, to days, to weeks. If things don't pick up, or they seem to be getting worse, there's people out there to help (See below).

In the immediate time, there are things that can help a little though.

The first is to eat. I don't mean compensational eating, but, retaining your usual diet. Don't skip meals. This always makes matters worse. Even if you feel as though your going to throw up, eating a little, something light perhaps, can just take the edge off the stomach pains.

What you're actually doing is you're giving you stomach some work to do - keeping it busy.

In some circumstances, you may have diarrhoea, or be physically sick. This is not always abnormal - but, it may be best to just get a second opinion from a professional. Consider calling NHS direct, or visiting you're GP. In an emergency, then out of hours GP's are available, or A&E if it is life critical.

It is important, if you do have diarrhoea or sickness that you replace the lost fluids to prevent dehydration. (Dehydration will also make you feel poorly). Sip plenty of water.

Secondly, keep active. You're not trying to forget about events, but what you're actually doing is mixing the thoughts of these traumatic experiences with non traumatic ones.

As I type here, right now, the events of today are in the forefront of my mind. I can't get them out - but I'm doing other things. Watching a movie perhaps that makes you feel safe and comfortable. Drinking a warm drink. Catching up on TV, Reading a book, and so on. It may help to write down your experiences. This is called 'Working Through', and is particularly helpful to me when I have these feelings. I ritually burn the pages in the fire place then as a way of letting go the feelings. Perhaps that would just work for me, I don't know.

Thirdly, Talk to others. Tell people you know and trust how you feel. Tell them about what's happened. Do it in a way to just get it off your chest, but also respect their thoughts and feelings.
If, like so many people out there, you can't think of anyone you can talk to, then professionals exist who can help you (See below).

Fourthly, Get rest. Don't be afraid to take time off (Although working through helps me) At work, let your line manager know of the problem - it's natural that performance may be effected, and it will help for them to know your going through a rough time. Take time for yourself. Get plenty of sleep. If your thoughts and feelings are interacting with your sleep to the point that you can't get any rest, consider contacting your GP for advice.

As said previously, you will get through your experience, there is sadly no easy way, and each person differs.

If you know of anything that might help, please do comment below.

Need someone to talk to?

Go to: www.samaritans.org ,  or call the Samartians on 08457 90 90 90 . The Samaritans can be emailed confidentially at jo@samaritans.org and good listeners.

Don't be afraid to ask for help from your GP, friends or family. The world is filled with people who care.

3 things your competitors can teach you about First Aid!

We see a lot of businesses in regards to First Aid, be it teaching their staff, or inspecting their First Aid resources.

We don't judge anyone on their provisions, but it totally is an overlooked field for many.

Imagine being a printer. You have the latest technology in your Printshop... several Hagelmaz 4000 direct ink to printer laser machines, all run by a Quadromax 1200 central control machine. It delivers the best quality prints you can imagine, from printing on the end of a pin, through to massive skyscraper sized posters.

Your nearest competitor has a Gestetner machine.

How would you think of them? How would your mutual clients react when visiting both premises and viewing the capabilities of the individual companies.... and which one would win their custom?

Now say one of the customers has an accident on the premises.

The printer with the latest gear doesn't have a First Aid kit. The printer with the 1970's Gestetner has a brand new, HSE compliant kit, fully stocked.

Which premises is best prepared for the incident?

We can learn a lot from others. As business people, we like to think we're the best in our field. No one does what we do better. This competitive outlook on our trades makes us aspire to be the best that we can be, and to succeed in all that we do.

Scrape the surface off, and is it the same?

Compliance and duty of care are, in our perspective, as important as the tasks we deal with on a daily basis, and can we afford to not pay as much attention to them as we do to our own business?

In our office, we have around 132 First Aid kits. 130 are for sale, or available as upgrades, or used as stock replacements on client sites. 1 is a very advanced medical response bag, and 1 is a 50 person First Aid kit screwed to the wall.

We take our job very seriously, to the extent that we believe the situation may occur where all our stock is sold, our medical bag is out, and someone in the office may have an accident... which is why we keep a First Aid kit, as the law says we should, adhered to the wall.

Truly, this is a great place to have an accident (Don't tell our insurers we said that!)

I wonder what our competitors are like?

Some do not even have a First Aid kit in their cars!

And what does that tell us about their business module?

Here's 3 things that YOUR competition can teach you about First Aid!

1. It's pretty important. 140'000 people a year are injured or die in the workplace. That number could be greatly reduced if more people were skilled and qualified to deliver First Aid.
Our competitors have taught us that having skilled and qualified First Aiders can reduce the deaths in the workplace, and injuries can be dealt with appropriately.

2. A recent poll conducted of 4000 people showed that less than 20% of people even knew the basics of First Aid. So, 80% of people really didn't have a clue about emergency life saving action. That figure includes people who have a duty of care over you, including shop keepers and so on... Where do you sit in your business? In the 20% or 80? and what does that tell us about their commitment to staff and customers?
Our competitors have taught us that having First Aid qualified and trained staff in the workplace shows commitment to staff and customers - 80% don't have this.

3. 8/10 people claim they have been in a workplace where no First Aid cover / provisions are made. What does that tell you about thinking outside the box of your competitor?
Our competitors have taught us that they don't consider compliance and safety to be important.

It's a sad state of affairs, but, it's clear that First Aid is neglected by your competitors, and yet it reflects very much so their commitment to their customers and staff - both of which are the life blood of your business.

If there's one more thing you must learn, let it be this, that prevention is better than cure, and through gaining appropriate First Aid Training, you can ensure you are in the upper echelons of your business.

We don't judge on Past, we Protect for the future. Visit us to find out more: www.centricuk.com

What will First Aid be like in 100 Years time?

If only we had a time machine! (Personally, I'd go back to the 80's, mainly so my wardrobe would be back in fashion, and I prefer the music!).

When we look back at First Aid 100 years ago, a lot has changed (and even more remains the same!).

The biggest changes are related to the advancement of medical technology. Bandages are still in, as are other tools of the trade, but now we know more about life saving, and preventative / restorative medicine.

In 100 years from now, what will it be like?

I personally envisage a time where the First Aid kit will involve some kind of wand.  A device that uses technology we currently don't know about, that when activated, it diagnoses, and acts accordingly.

Perhaps it will instruct the First Aider of the Future to take some kind of action, setting another device to do something to heal the casualty.

That casualty would then be extracted to a Hospital perhaps, where they will place them inside a special machine that scans the entire body, before making further decisions on treatments to be delivered....

Or perhaps I'm just dreaming... what do you think First Aid will look like in 100 years?

www.centricuk.com

10 Quick Tips about First Aid!

Tips and Tricks can be really useful in all situations, from boiling and egg, through to landing on the moon!

Here's our top ten for First Aid!

1. Always have more than one First Aid kit, and keep them where you always are; so, that's at home, in the car, in the office (at work) and... on your person!

2. Keep First Aid kits in a waterproof container such as a tupperware box. Mark that box with a big Red Cross, and write 'First Aid Kit' on it. When buying a ready made First Aid Kit, ensure its box is waterproof.

3. Ensure all contents in a First Aid kit are in date. Out of date bandages can start falling apart, and medicines may have less of an effect, or undesirable results (Such as death in extreme circumstances!)

4. Ensure you have enough First Aid contents to treat a variety of wounds. A First Aid kit with just plasters in, is only useful for a small kit. Make sure there's bandages, and isolades, and Micropore, and Steristrips etc etc. Don't know what these things are? Go on a First Aid Course!

5. Always keep a good supply of gloves in a First Aid kit - this item is often overlooked. Also, make  sure they are what's called NITRILE gloves.... usually, and most commonly, these are blue in colour (They can be any colour at all really). Latex gloves can sometimes give a reaction to someone who is sensitive to that product.

6. If you keep Asprin, or any other medication in a First Aid kit, or there is anything sharp in there (Safety pins, scalpel blades) ensure it's out of reach of Children, or, better still, teach your children how to use the contents of a First Aid kit, and keep medication separate.

7. Never ever scrimp of First Aid contents. The cheapest we've seen a First Aid kit was for £1 in a pound shop. It's contents were dreadful, and of little use in an emergency (No use actually). This is a potentially life saving investment. Check the contents, and spend appropriately!

8. Learn about First Aid - taking your skills to the next level. Think about where you usually are in life. Do you walk a lot? Are you in remote places? Perhaps learning how to improvise in an Emergency will help when needed.

9. Think 'Outside the Box' (Literally). Most kits are only as good as the person who has access to them. Get real training, and practice your skills regularly.

10. Make sure people who are First Aid Trained, and First Aid Competent are known of. Co-workers and friends should be able to brag about their skills - big them up on it. Make sure everyone knows. In an Emergency, whilst waiting for professional help, you'll know who to call for immediate assistance.

Why we LOVE First Aid! (And you should too!)

First Aid has certain advantages. It saves lives is the first!

But there's a whole lot more to it than that. Up and down the country, in fact, all over the world, there are scores of people, all trained, and ready to deliver completely selfless care to total strangers in their moment of need.

They are called 'First Aiders'.

We, as in us, at the company, are here because we enjoy what we do, and of course we get paid for doing it. We have the best of both worlds. But, our skills and training avail us to providing aid as and where it is needed, and for this, we are unpaid.

Likewise, volunteers globally give their time and energy into maintaining a support network - Such as St John Ambulance, The British Red Cross, St Andrews Ambulance, Johanniter, Maltezer, The American Red Cross, Medecins Sans Frontieres and so on.

As we're in the business of First Aid Education, we wanted to be part of something that didn't present a conflict of interest. St John Ambulance, The Red Cross, and so on all have departments that educate for profit - well, that's what we do, so we could never guarantee unbiased membership, and were frankly dubious of some others that claimed it. We still however wanted to be able to give something back to the community, and we came across 'The British Heart Foundation Heartstart Course' . We now offer this course FREE of charge to other businesses and selected communities. It doesn't conflict with any of our other courses, as it's only 2 hours long, and is more of training to save lives, as oppose to training to save lives and meet compliance needs.

So, Karma restored. All is good...

Well, not quite, we still wanted more, so we supply several needs overseas, and are all permanently on standby to help where required. It's surprising how involved we are!

I know I haven't explained why we LOVE First Aid, so, please, let me tell you now.

Simply, there is no other feeling than that of knowing you've made a life changing difference to someone else - even if you will never see them again.

We have delivered aid to people in all situations, from a cut knee on stairs, through to cardiac arrest on the street. In the case of the latter example, not everyone lives to this day, but, we gave them a chance, and for some, they continue to live because of our actions.

We were inspired to work in this field some time ago, again from life experiences, I, the author, witnessed my mother slip into unconsciousness, and begin to arrest when I was 17, she 46. Ambulance crews fought to revive her, and succeeded, and she is still with us to this day (and a tremendous mother and now grandmother to boot!).

My colleagues can all offer similar stories from life, and together, we have our own motivations for action. What makes us work together, and stick together, is the common goal to save life, to teach saving of life, and to live life.

Just suppose you experienced a loved one suffer a Heart Attack. Would you know what to do?

If you were the one having a Heart Attack, would you like someone who knew what they were doing to step in and save your life?

That is the reason you should Love First Aid too.... It could save your life, or the life of someone you loved!

There's no time like the present to learn First Aid. Check us out at: www.centricuk.com

The maddest advice we've EVER heard about First Aid!

First Aid, as with anything comes with a whole host of opinion and old wives tales!

Here's some we've heard of:

"My Nan used to apply Bleach onto burns, she swore by it"

- And they were serious! The methodology behind it is that it's pretty clean, it's also cooling, but there ends the benefits! It hurts, it can de-skin a burn, it can cause further burns, and it's just wrong!-

What you need to do, is follow the First Aid guidance, and run cold water over the burn to cool it down. If it's a bad burn (deep or large), then hospital is on the cards. If it's effecting breathing, or has the potential to get worse, get an ambulance! Don't reach for the toilet duck! Ditto Butter and ointments.

"If someone is drunk, give them hot coffee to sober them up"

- Ok, not quite First Aid, but the caffeine and sugar content of the drink will have an effect. It will wake you up a little. Great. Now you've got a wide away drunk guy. Winner.-

What you need to do is keep the person hydrated, let them sleep, and when they do sleep, stick them in the recovery position (On their side, so if they are sick, they hopefully won't choke on it)

"Feed a Cold, Starve a Fever"

-Really? How and Why? No No No. Keep hydrated, monitor temperature, treat cause.-

What you need to do is find out what's wrong. Is it manflu, or the plague. In the case of the latter (And others, such as Ebola) certain things in line with local health advice may be needed. Once you're sure this illness isn't going to wipe out mankind, then TLC is required. Soups, and Lots and Lots of water. Maintain temperature, Rest, and let it work its course. If in doubt, always get a second opinion (NHS Direct is good / GP).

"Raw meat will cure a black eye"

-Is that a T-Bone steak or some cat food? The idea behind this is similar to a cold compress. Sticking a pack of mince on your head won't heal anything though, and worse, could cause all manner of bacteria to interact with your body. Expect a tape worm.-

What you need to do is sure, cool the area. Check the eye for damage, and if unsure, or it's serious (Blurred vision, or signs of a head injury) get a second opinion. (NHS Direct is good).

"Lean backwards, head up to stop a nose bleed"

-Yeah, sounds great. Send all that blood down to the stomach. I remember getting this treatment as a kid. I can still remember the taste of blood to this day-

What you need to do is stop the bleeding. There will seem to be more blood than there is. Lean the bleeder forwards, stick some kleenex under the nose (To stop the blood dripping on the floor / over clothes) and use the thumb and forefingers to pinch the nose between the cartilage to stop the flow. If it doesn't work, adjust the grip till it does. After 5 mins, release. If the blood flows, hold again for 10 mins. If this fails after a few times, then it's time to go to find some medical help. Ditto is the person with the nosebleed is feeling dizzy, sick, or if this bleed is caused by a head injury.

"Schnapps, Whiskey, Vodka etc to warm up a cold victim"

- This is the stuff nightmares are made of. The thought of a St Bernard dog racing over a snowy hill to an avalanche victim with a mini wooden cask of Brandy around its neck, then the poor soul taking a swig, before yodelling down the mountain right as rain is totally false. The alcoholic drink will make the person feel warm for a few moments, before being absorbed into the blood stream, and helping Hypothermia set well and truly in. They will just die a little quicker.-

What you need to do is stay clear of anything that intoxicates. Keep hydrated and warm. Blankets, as well as keeping off the cold floor will help. If things are that bad, share body heat, not a pint.

"I did a First Aid course in 1973. I don't need to do it again"

-Actually, things have sort of moved on from then. We don't dunk people to find out if they're witches anymore either-

What you need to do is get yourself on a First Aid Course. They are simple, and some are even free. First Aid kits have come a long way too. We no longer have saws for amputation in them.

Contents of a General First Aid Kit

Contents of a General First Aid Kit

Having a well stocked, in date First Aid kit is vital to ensuring you have the right bits to help treat someone involved in an accident. There are many First Aid kits on the market, ranging from very cheap, very low quality, pretty useless £1 specials, through to medical kits that cost several hundreds of pounds.

One option is to build your own First Aid kit, and with the right contents, you too can have a First Aid kit for every eventuality.

Take a look at one of our basic First Aid Kits as shown to students on our courses:

In a Bag, to Keep it together, and dry! All contents are kept in a zip lock bag. This ensures they are kept dry, and together, all in one place!

Antiseptic Cream. After cleaning a wound with water, this is good to prevent infection, keeping the wound clean. If this First Aid kit is used to treat others, or someone in the family is sensitive to the ingredients to the cream - it should be excluded.

Wound and Dressing closures. Washproof plasters to cover small cuts, Steri-Strips to close deeper wounds, safety pins and micropore tape to hold dressings fast in place.

Triangular bandages are great, and so versatile! You can make a head bandage, or sling from one! But, with slings, be careful with the paper type of bandage, they aren't so strong, so a fabric type may be better!

Face shield. Vital to prevent cross contamination when delivering mouth to mouth resuscitation (Rescue Breaths) to a casualty. We ensure we have these in our First Aid Kits, as well as on keyrings with our keys. One is always close to hand!

Gloves. Gloves are really important to prevent cross infection in both directions. Blood and other body fluids generally isn't the most pleasant of things to be in contact with, and more so, can contain some pretty nasty stuff such as viruses. Gloves are a quick and easy way to keep your hands free from all this whilst you treat a casualty.

Wound cleansing wipes. Alcohol Free. Great for cleaning a wound when away from water. You can gently, and under your own control, clean around a wound. Alcohol does have great cleaning properties, but when applied to a wound can hurt really badly, and also, can cause a reaction with a casualty. Sterile Water, as found on these wipes, will do just fine.

Assorted Dressings, Bandages, and pads. A dressing is often a bandage with a pad, whereas a bandage is a long piece of material, often woven for strength. There are many dressings / bandages, and each has it's own use. A Crepe bandage for example (Top middle) is elasticated, and this allows for swelling of the injured part, without cutting off circulation (Big problem). It's commonly used on joints, whereas other dressings can be used alone, and then bandaged over to prevent blood seepage.

Tough scissors & Tweezers. A tough pair of scissors helps cut through clothing and shoe laces etc. Tweezers are so important for removing small splinters and the such - But be aware, we don't remove bits of glass, or branches from people. That foreign object may be plugging a hole where without it's presence, a whole load of blood may flow out, and we really don't want that!

Other items for a First Aid kit may include a foil blanket (Mixed reviews on these), Sterile water (Eye wash) as well as a First Aid Booklet to help guide you in an Emergency.

If you're in the car, house, or office, extra levels of preparedness are required, and you will need to think about every potential incident, then aim off for it.

All the gear is great, but, without adequate training, it may be of little or no use in an Emergency, so, consider going on a First Aid Course.

Centric runs such courses for business and private groups alike. Check us out, we're here to help!

www.centricuk.com