CA First Aid

🌲 To every tree planter, forester, and farm worker out there — when did you last check your blood pressure?

You're outdoors. You're physical. You work harder before 9am than most people do all day. It's easy to assume that means you're in the clear health-wise.

But here's what too many people in our industry find out the hard way: high blood pressure doesn't care how hard you work. It's called the "silent killer" because it has no symptoms — no pain, no warning — until something goes seriously wrong.

And if you're fuelling long shifts in the field with energy drinks, you need to know this:

⚡ A single large energy drink can spike your blood pressure by up to 10 mmHg and push your heart rate up significantly
⚡ The effects can last 3–4 hours — right through your working day
⚡ Dehydration from physical outdoor work makes the cardiovascular strain even worse
⚡ 1 in 8 young adults already has elevated blood pressure — most don't know it

Whether you're planting on a hillside, operating machinery, running a chainsaw, or bringing in a harvest — your heart is your most important piece of kit. Look after it.

✅ What to do right now: Get a free blood pressure check at your local pharmacy — takes two minutes. Know your numbers. If you're regularly drinking energy drinks or have a family history of heart problems, make it a priority this week. Don't wait for a symptom that may never come.

Share this with someone who works outdoors. It might be the most important thing you do today. 💚

The team from Taiga Upland enjoying evacuating a casualty from a tractor today.

We have courses in Traquair this coming Monday 2nd and Murthly on Tuesday 3rd March

Efaw+f course coming up the next couple of weeks
Johnstone Bridge Monday 23rd Feb
Ardersier Tuesday 24th Feb
Berwick 3rd March
Stirling 9th March
Huntly 11th March
Stanley 13th March
Invergarry 16th March

Happy new year folks I hope 2026 is a good one for you.
EFAW+f courses for the new year

Johnstone Bridge 7th Jan
Perthshire 12th Jan
Ardersier 5th Jan
Huntly 19th Jan
Ayrshire 19th Jan
Stirling 23rd Jan
Peebles 26th Jan
Thanks for the team from Jim Wilmer and Son for getting involved with this type of training.

EFAW +f course for the rest of this year
Lochguilphead 10th Dec
Darlington 10th
Peebles 12th Dec
Ardersier 15th Dec
Elgin 16th Dec
Kirkmichael 18th
Polmont 19th
North Yorks 22nd

Some casualty evacuation from a sprayer last week. Bit of a challenge but when broken down just the same as most other large machines

EFAW +f course for the rest of this year
Lochguilphead 10th Dec
Darlington 10th
Peebles 12th Dec
Ardersier 15th Dec
Elgin 16th Dec
Kirkmichael 18th
Polmont 19th
North Yorks 22nd

Course dates coming up soon
8th Sept Stirling
9th Canobie
10th Taynuilt
22nd Perth
24th Kelso
7th Oct Inverness
9th Oct Skye