Staying Alive

Staying Alive We aim to provide you with top quality first aid training at a realistic price.

Before the bank-holiday weekend begins, find out where your nearest defibrillator is.Then ask a second question:Could yo...
28/08/2026

Before the bank-holiday weekend begins, find out where your nearest defibrillator is.

Then ask a second question:

Could you actually access it in an emergency?

Resuscitation Council UK’s latest guidance reinforces that anyone can use an AED. The device analyses the heart rhythm and will only advise a shock when one is needed.

If someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally:

• Call 999 immediately and put the phone on loudspeaker
• Start chest compressions in the centre of the chest
• Push hard and fast, around twice per second
• Send someone to collect an AED
• Switch it on and follow its spoken instructions
• Continue until professional help takes over or the person shows clear signs of life

Occasional gasps are not normal breathing.

If your organisation has an AED, check that:

• People know where it is
• Access is not blocked
• Pads and batteries are in date
• Clear signage is displayed
• It remains accessible when the building is closed

Knowing that an AED exists is good. Being able to find and use it without delay is far better.

Is your workplace first-aid cover quietly going on holiday too?A list of trained names does not automatically mean you h...
27/08/2026

Is your workplace first-aid cover quietly going on holiday too?

A list of trained names does not automatically mean you have reliable cover.

HSE guidance makes an important point: an appointed person may help during an unexpected absence, within their role and competence, but planned annual leave does not count as an unforeseen absence.

Try this five-minute check today:

• Who is trained and actually present?
• Is there cover across every working shift?
• What happens during breaks, meetings or off-site work?
• Are lone, remote and travelling workers considered?
• Do employees know who to contact?
• Are certificates current?
• Are kits accessible and appropriately stocked?
• Does everyone know where the nearest AED is?

Your first-aid arrangements should reflect how the organisation operates now, not how it worked when the assessment was last written.

If changes to staffing, working patterns or risks have created gaps, review your first-aid needs assessment and arrange appropriate training.

We provide workplace first-aid training at your premises, helping reduce disruption while building genuine confidence.

Bank-holiday barbecues, fire pits and camping stoves bring an increased risk of burns, but would everyone nearby know wh...
26/08/2026

Bank-holiday barbecues, fire pits and camping stoves bring an increased risk of burns, but would everyone nearby know what to do?

Remember: COOL, CALL, COVER.

COOL
Cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes. Remove jewellery and clothing near the burn if they are not stuck to the skin.

CALL
Seek appropriate medical advice. Call 999 for a severe burn or other life-threatening concerns.

COVER
After cooling, loosely cover the burn with cling film laid over it, or use a clean, non-fluffy dressing.

Do not:

• Apply ice
• Use butter, toothpaste or creams
• Burst any blisters
• Pull away clothing stuck to the skin
• Wrap cling film tightly around a limb

Keep the rest of the person warm while cooling the injury, particularly babies, children and older people.

Twenty minutes can feel like a long time during an emergency, but effective cooling can make a significant difference.

Save this post before the weekend and share it with anyone planning a barbecue, camping trip or outdoor event.

As schools prepare for September, allergy safety needs to be about more than completing a policy.The new statutory expec...
25/08/2026

As schools prepare for September, allergy safety needs to be about more than completing a policy.

The new statutory expectations for schools include allergy-safety training, Individual Healthcare Plans, clear emergency arrangements and learning from incidents and near misses.

But the most important question is practical:

Would the first person present know what to do?

Anaphylaxis may involve rapidly developing problems with the airway, breathing or circulation. Skin changes may occur, but they are not always present.

If anaphylaxis is suspected:

• Use the available adrenaline auto-injector without delay
• Call 999 and clearly say “anaphylaxis”
• Keep the person lying down, with their legs raised if appropriate
• If breathing is difficult, allow them to raise their shoulders or sit up slowly
• Do not let them stand or walk
• Give a second dose after five minutes if symptoms persist and another device is available
• Be prepared to begin CPR if they become unresponsive and are not breathing normally

Effective preparedness includes teachers, administrators, lunchtime teams, coaches, caretakers and everyone who may be present when a reaction begins.

We provide practical anaphylaxis and adrenaline auto-injector awareness training for education settings.

If you remember only one piece of water-safety advice this bank-holiday week, make it this:FLOAT TO LIVE.The RNLI is bri...
24/08/2026

If you remember only one piece of water-safety advice this bank-holiday week, make it this:

FLOAT TO LIVE.

The RNLI is bringing this lifesaving message to millions of people across the UK this summer, and it is something children and adults should know.

If you unexpectedly find yourself in difficulty in the water:
• Tilt your head back with your ears submerged
• Relax and try to control your breathing
• Move your hands and legs gently to help you float
• Do not worry if your legs sink, everyone floats differently
• Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety if you can

If you see someone else in difficulty, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Avoid entering the water yourself unless you are trained and equipped to do so.

First aid is not only about what happens after an emergency. It is also about knowing the simple actions that can prevent an emergency from becoming a tragedy.

Please share this. It could reach someone just before they need it.

🗓️ Your first-aid arrangements should not disappear when your usual first aider goes on holiday.This Friday, try a simpl...
21/08/2026

🗓️ Your first-aid arrangements should not disappear when your usual first aider goes on holiday.

This Friday, try a simple check:

“If an emergency happened right now, who would respond?”

Then check:

• Is a trained person actually on site?
• Does cover extend across every shift?
• Do colleagues know who to contact?
• Are remote, lone and travelling workers considered?
• Are kits accessible and appropriately stocked?
• Are certificates still valid?
• Does anyone know where the nearest AED is located?

A list of trained names is not the same as reliable cover.

First-aid arrangements need to reflect how your organisation operates today, including annual leave, hybrid working, shift changes and staff turnover.

A five-minute check today could reveal a gap before an emergency does.

🏫 Allergy safety cannot depend on whether one particular first aider is nearby.A reaction could begin in the classroom, ...
20/08/2026

🏫 Allergy safety cannot depend on whether one particular first aider is nearby.

A reaction could begin in the classroom, playground, dining hall, minibus or during an off-site activity.

With new statutory allergy-safety guidance taking effect in England from September, schools should now be checking:
✅ Is the allergy policy published and understood?
✅ Have staff received appropriate training?
✅ Are Individual Healthcare Plans current?
✅ Can prescribed medication be reached quickly?
✅ Are spare adrenaline auto-injectors available and in date?
✅ Do staff know what to do on trips and during clubs?

If anaphylaxis is suspected:
• Give the adrenaline auto-injector promptly
• Call 999 and say “anaphylaxis”
• Keep the person lying down, unless breathing difficulty means they need to sit with their legs extended
• Give a second dose after five minutes if symptoms persist and another device is available

Policies matter, but people need the confidence to put them into action.

⚽ A player does not need to be knocked unconscious to have a concussion.Following a blow to the head or body, look for:•...
19/08/2026

⚽ A player does not need to be knocked unconscious to have a concussion.

Following a blow to the head or body, look for:
• Confusion or appearing dazed
• Headache or dizziness
• Balance problems
• Nausea or vomiting
• Memory difficulties
• Unusual behaviour
• Visual disturbance

If concussion is suspected, remove them from play immediately.

Do not allow them to “run it off”, finish the match or return because they say they feel better.

Contact NHS 111 within 24 hours for advice. Call 999 for serious or worsening symptoms such as a seizure, repeated vomiting, increasing confusion, weakness, severe neck pain or deteriorating consciousness.

The player’s health must come before the result.

If in doubt, sit them out.

☀️ Would you recognise when somebody is becoming dangerously unwell in the heat?Heat exhaustion may cause:• Headache or ...
17/08/2026

☀️ Would you recognise when somebody is becoming dangerously unwell in the heat?

Heat exhaustion may cause:
• Headache or dizziness
• Nausea
• Heavy sweating and clammy skin
• Muscle cramps
• Extreme thirst
• Weakness or a fast heartbeat

Move the person somewhere cool, remove unnecessary clothing, cool their skin and encourage them to drink cool fluids if they are fully awake and able to swallow.

They should begin to feel better within around 30 minutes.

🚨 Call 999 if they remain unwell or develop possible heatstroke, including confusion, poor coordination, a seizure, loss of consciousness, very hot skin or rapid breathing.

Continue cooling them while waiting for help. Heatstroke is a medical emergency.

Knowing the difference between uncomfortable and seriously unwell could save a life.

Is your school ready for the strengthened allergy safety expectations?The new statutory guidance connected with Benedict...
14/08/2026

Is your school ready for the strengthened allergy safety expectations?

The new statutory guidance connected with Benedict’s Law places allergy safety firmly on the agenda for schools in England.
Effective preparation includes more than knowing which pupils have diagnosed allergies.

Schools should check:
✅ Is there a clear allergy safety policy?
✅ Do staff know how to recognise anaphylaxis?
✅ Can emergency medication be reached quickly?
✅ Are adrenaline auto-injectors stored correctly and checked regularly?
✅ Do staff know how to administer them?
✅ Are supply staff, lunchtime teams and club staff included in awareness training?
✅ Are trips and activities planned with allergy safety in mind?
✅ Are incidents and near misses recorded and reviewed?

Anaphylaxis can happen without warning, including in a child with no previous allergy diagnosis.

Preparation should therefore involve the whole school community, not only designated first aiders.

Our Benedict’s Law and anaphylaxis awareness training helps staff understand the risks, recognise an emergency and respond with greater confidence.

If your school is reviewing its arrangements for September, we would be delighted to help.

📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.stayingalive.training
☎️ 01438 816685

Address

29 Balmoral Close
Stevenage
SG28UA

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+441438816685

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