Category Archives: Uncategorized

Rural Areas Leave First Aid Gap

August 7, 2017UncategorizedRyan Davis Philip

First Aid in Canberra. Book in to one of our first aid sessions and use the code STUDENT to receive 10% discount on our already low prices.

By Katherine C. Gilyard August 3, 2017

Better hope that you aren’t in a rural area if you are seriously hurt and need an ambulance. The wait could be dangerous.

Response times for emergency medical services are more than twice as long in rural areas than urban locations, according to a recent research letter in JAMA Surgery.

Median response times were 13 minutes out in the country compared with six in both city and suburban locations, researchers found after reviewing records of nearly 1.8 million EMS runs across the U.S. in 2015.

That’s not the worst of it. In rural areas, one in 10 EMS units did not reach an emergency scene for nearly half an hour after the 911 call came in, the study reported.

“There are just some things that just can’t wait,” said Dr. Howard Mell, the study’s lead author. “When someone’s heart is not beating … when someone’s not breathing, any delay in care, even a minute — it’s proven to be detrimental.”

The researchers point out in their letter that they looked into the time differences to help inform the debate about improving first aid campaigns. They said their data suggest that bystanders can provide valuable assistance to the sick and injured persons before EMS arrives.

The JAMA letter put it this way: “Recognizing that ‘you are the help until help arrives’ may be lifesaving.”

Mell, whose 25 years in emergency medicine also includes stints as a firefighter and a paramedic, said he cannot recall an instance when a trained bystander at an emergency scene would not have helped before EMS’ arrival. He is the attending emergency physician for CEP-America at Presence Mercy Medical Center in Aurora, Ill., and a spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Caring for the sick and injured is EMS’ workers’ job, but according to Mell’s study, family, friends and bystanders are the first link in the chain of survival. Beneficiaries are not always strangers.

People who get first aid and CPR training will likely use it to save friends and family members one day, Mell said. “It’s extremely rare that you get a patient who is truly alone.”

The researchers’ message is at the center of a public education campaign called “Until Help Arrives,” which is affiliated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other government agencies. The campaign provides web-based resources to teach basic life-saving skills.

An accompanying editorial endorsed the researchers’ viewpoint and said their study “reinforces the importance of bystanders as immediate responders.” It pointed to the need for more emphasis on teaching people how to control bleeding.

Thirty-two states have adopted legislation requiring high school students be trained in CPR and the use of automatic electric defibrillators before graduation. Students should also learn how to control bleeding, the editorial said.

‘widespread’ OHS problems

August 4, 2017UncategorizedRyan Davis Philip

First Aid Courses in Canberra. We have chefs in our courses all of the time who report incidents like this. Burn treatment is running under cold water for minimum of 20 minutes. Book now to learn more.

James Packer’s Crown Resorts is facing allegations from a former first aid manager that the casino told staff to ignore a domestic violence incident because it involved a visiting south east Asian politician, and did not let a chef attend the first aid office until the end of his shift even though he had serious burns.

In a document filed in the Federal Circuit Court, Crown’s former first aid manager, Audrey Gatt, claims she witnessed and complained about more than 20 occupational health and safety incidents at Crown Resorts in the five months she was employed at the casino.

Ms Gatt says in March 2017, security told first aid officers to “ignore” a domestic violence incident involving a notable politician from south east Asia, and to leave the badly beaten woman alone to attend to her injuries.

She says the visiting politician threatened not to attend Crown in the future if he was exposed. She says she complained about the incident the following day.

Ms Gatt also claims that in February she complained about a chef who sustained extensive burns to his right arm but was made to work all day before being allowed to go to Crown’s first aid office for treatment.

Chef ‘frightened’

She alleges when the chef asked his supervisor for permission to go to the first aid office, he was told there was no one to replace him and he needed to continue working. As a result he needed a skin graft, she claims.

“The chef was not able to speak English and was frightened he may lose job if he tried to argue or attend the first aid office without authority to do so.”

Ms Gatt says on another occasion, a heavy box fell and severed a staff member’s finger and security personnel was delayed in retrieving the finger, which meant the finger could not be reattached.

She says the accountants employed by Crown at the time “appeared more concerned with the staff’s blood having stained the money, and the resulting inability to then count and bank the money, rather than the welfare of the staff member who had just lost his finger”.

In a statement to The Australian Financial Review, Ms Gatt, who has worked in the medical industry for more than eight years and as a police officer prior to that, said work health and safety issues at Crown Resorts was “very widespread” and there was “absolutely 100 per cent without a doubt” a culture of ignoring serious OHS problems.

“Other employees would voice concerns with myself. Their concerns were completely ignored by senior managers and not taken seriously,” she said.

When contacted by The Financial Review for comment, a Crown Resorts spokeswoman said: “As this matter is before the court, Crown is unable to comment.”

Ms Gatt also claims a first aid officer who reported to her had to attend to a patron who had been stabbed in her hotel room without security guards because there were not enough guards on duty at the time.

This meant the first aid officer had to face the offender in the hotel room still holding the knife.

‘Sooks’

Another OHS incident involved Ms Gatt complaining about a food poisoning outbreak at the staff buffet restaurant. She says when it was later discovered the outbreak was caused by fruit salad, senior security operations manager Sarina Persall told staff to simply not eat there.

She says on another occasion when she complained about her and her colleagues’ shoulder pain from carrying heavy first aid equipment, Ms Persall said they should continue and were “sooks”.

Her employment at Crown was terminated in April, a week before a WorkSafe audit. She says she was told she was being dismissed for unsatisfactory performance.

Ms Gatt’s lawyer, Trent Hancock at employment law firm McDonald Murholme, argues she was unlawfully dismissed because she made more than 20 complaints about the occupational health and safety practices at Crown.

Ms Gatt wants compensation for losing her job and a maximum pecuniary penalty, which is currently set at $63,000.

The allegations come after three Crown Resorts’ Australian staff members were sentenced to jail in China for trying to attract Chinese visitors to its casinos outside of China.

Sneaking banned foods into your child’s lunch box can kill

August 3, 2017UncategorizedRyan Davis Philip

First Aid Training in Canberra. Scary to think people would do this. Please look after those with allergies. Anaphylaxis is becoming more prevalent.

Every parent wants their child to return home safely from school each day. Allergy parents need the co-operation of other parents to ensure this happens. (Pic: Supplied)

AT the beginning of each school term, letters are sent home to parents stating what foods are “safe” to pack for school lunches.

These letters come with unneeded controversy about why certain children should be excluded from this rule and be allowed to eat what they wish. If only it were that easy.

Allergy parents know how you feel about the pesky letters. We are made out to feel as though we have “given” our child allergies (yes, we have heard it all).

We are told we should homeschool our children because food allergies limit other children who don’t suffer allergies.

We are made to feel guilty about other children not being able to enjoy their favourite treats at school. But honestly, at the end of the day, six hours isn’t really that long for your child to go without.

Sneaking banned foods into your child’s lunch box is wrong. To you, it may seem harmless and you may win your child over by providing them with a little “treat” without the teachers knowing.

If you want to treat your kids with banned foods, wait till the get home from school. Sneaking them into their lunch box could kill a child. (Pic: iStock)

Teachers rely on parents to abide by the school rules to provide a safe environment for ALL children. When food bans are ignored, teachers may not have time to respond if an allergic reaction was to occur. It’s every allergy parent’s worst nightmare receiving a call stating something that should be as simple as sitting down and eating lunch, has caused their child life threatening symptoms. I will repeat, LIFE threatening.

As an allergy parent, I am always questioned about why certain foods aren’t allowed at school when people can be allergic to anything. I get told the list of banned foods is pointless because parents are just going to pack them anyway. I also get told that I should just feed my children the allergens and they will, in some miracle way, grow out of it. I hate to inform you, but this in fact, does not work.

The new phenomenon of ‘allergy bullies’

Teaching yourself and your child about allergies is needed in today’s society. Let’s face it, they’re everywhere. A reaction can happen anytime, anywhere and knowing what to expect can save someone’s life.

Food safety should be taught to not only kids without allergies, but to kids with allergies, too. Teaching children not to share their lunches — yes I know, we teach them to share their whole lives and now we need to teach them not to share their food — and how to read ingredients lists can help allergy kids become aware and to learn what they can and can’t eat.

Packing banned foods into your child’s lunch box may seem harmless to you, but imagine how your child would feel if they accidentally caused their best friend to have a deadly allergic reaction. Imagine them having to deal with the pain of killing their friend over a simple sandwich. Sounds silly, doesn’t it? But it CAN happen… And that easily.

Allergies need to be taken seriously. Educate yourself and your children about food allergies and become allergy aware. Food allergies are life threatening, and for some people, it doesn’t take much for a deadly reaction to occur. Becoming allergy aware is as simple as watching a video clip or some online reading.

Meg’s two children Elsie and Flynn require a combined effort to keep them safe at school. (Pic: Supplied)

The Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy now offers free online training. This year’s Gluten Free Expo in Sydney this weekend will be another great place to immerse yourself in the world of living gluten free.

Learn the signs and symptoms and know what to look out for — allergic reactions can happen to anyone, even if they don’t run in your family.

Just remember, your child will still love you if they don’t get to have a cupcake for morning tea. There’s always after school.

Meg Ireland is exhibiting with her @siphappenscafe at this year’s Gluten Free Expo, at Rosehill Gardens on August 5-6.

Visit: www.glutenfreeexpo.com.au

Also book in to a First Aid Training Course with Canberra First Aid on the website www.canberrafirstaid.com

How Do You Teach Your Child To Manage Food Allergies At School?

August 2, 2017UncategorizedRyan Davis Philip

Canberra Childcare First Aid. It must be very difficult for parents with kids who have allergies. Everyday worrying about if they will come in contact with the allergen.

You’ve heard it before: When you’re a parent, the worry never ends. Man, they weren’t kidding. Whether you’re searching for sleep solutions or tips to manage temper tantrums, mom-ing comes with a long to-do list. Everyone wants what’s best for their child, and that doesn’t change once they head off to school. In fact, new worries — like learning setbacks and bullying — keep you up at night. But if your kid has food allergies, then you’re dealing with a unique set of concerns. So how do you teach your child to manage food allergies at school?

“The most important aspect of having a food allergic child in the school is having an allergist-confirmed food allergy diagnosis and a food allergy action plan that is communicated with the teachers and school nurse,” Dr. Sujan Patel, a pediatric allergist at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone, says in an email interview with Romper. “Additionally, having a food allergy bracelet, necklace, or other notification device assists in identification of potential food-related anaphylaxis should accidental exposure occur. Teaching your child early on about their allergy and recognition of the food they’re allergic to can be integral as well.”

Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist and immunologist with Allergy & Asthma Network, says prepping the school will make managing allergies easier for a child. That means parents should make sure all paperwork related to your child’s allergy is filled out with the school and updated every summer before school starts so they have the most accurate information. The school should also have its own supply of all rescue medication the child needs, such as EpiPens and asthma inhalers. Parikh recommends asking your doctor for extra prescriptions if necessary so medications are readily available at school, at home, with the babysitter, and in your child’s backpack. Do a double check that medication is not expired.

“Make sure the school has clear instructions on what they can eat and if anything is required before and during gym classes, class trips, and sports practices,” Parikh says.

Stacy Haynes, a chid psychologist and mother to a 10-year-old daughter with peanut allergies, says preparation is key for helping her daughter to feel safe at school. Haynes tells Romper in an email interview that she sends in a snack bag at the beginning of school so that her daughter can have a snack when unsafe treats are offered to other students. She has also taught her daughter to read all labels and learn about brands that are considered safe for her allergy. Haynes’ daughter also wears a necklace from Lauren’s Hope that identifies her allergy when she is in public.

“My biggest concern for her is other people not being mindful of allergies in the classroom,” Haynes says. “It is so hurtful for her to come home from a birthday and she could not have the cupcakes or other treats due to her allergy. Parents really have to remember that while we get it, children don’t.”

Haynes says her daughter is very much an advocate for her allergy and often reminds her mom to bring medications and special snacks to after-school activities. “It does make a difference when the children are aware of their allergies and that you always have an alternative plan just in case,” she says.

Sounds like the kids are doing alright — a bit of reassurance for worried parents everywhere.

Snake decapitated after latching onto owner’s face

August 1, 2017UncategorizedRyan Davis Philip

Canberra First Aid and Training can help you with treatment of snake bites. We offer excellent training courses for a fraction of the cost of others. Book now and receive a free First Aid Manual and cpr face mask.

A WOMAN has placed a frantic 911 call after her pet boa constrictor latched onto her nose and wrapped itself around her neck.

Bailee Dean

news.com.au

JULY 31, 20178:11PM

A 2.6 metre red-tailed boa constrictor.

A PET boa constrictor has been decapitated by firefighters with a pocket knife after latching on to its owner’s nose.

A 45-year-old Ohio woman, who has not been identified, adopted the 1.7-metre reptile a day earlier along with another boa constrictor.

Panic stricken, she called 911 and told the dispatcher, “Please, I have a boa constrictor stuck to my face!”

In the recording, you can clearly hear the stunned dispatcher replying, “You have a what?”

Firefighters chop head off boa constrictor attacking woman’s face

After exchanging her location, the woman appears to sound increasingly distressed saying, “Please hurry, it’s stuck to my nose.”

When the police and firefighters arrived at her home, they found her lying in her driveway covered in blood with the snake wrapped around her neck, biting her face.

“The snake wouldn’t release,” Sheffield Lake Fire Lt. Wes Mariner told Fox 8 News. “Because of how close it was wrapped around her, there were no other options from what I understand.”

Raymond Hoser, Australia’s “Snakeman” and the world’s leading snake expert, firmly disagrees. “It’s rubbish. All they had to do was pry its mouth open,” Hoser told news.com.au.

Hoser holding a mixture of dangerous snakes.Source:Supplied

Though the woman can be heard saying on the 911 call that she was unable to get the snake’s mouth open, Hoser said the emergency services could have done more.

“The boa constrictor is harmless. It’s not venomous. They could have easily wrenched the snake’s mouth open.”

Hoser has been working with reptiles for over 40 years, writing best-selling books and over 150 original scientific papers. He believes that it was unnecessary to decapitate the snake, “The people who killed it are the ones who should be hauled over the coals.”

The snake expert tells news.com.au that in incidences like this people simply, “sh*t themselves.”

“The boa constrictor is a pussy cat,” Hoser says, “the threat of snakes is totally blown out of proportion to reality because of shows like Deadly 60 and Crocodile Hunter.”

Twitter users were divided on the matter but many argued the snake should not have been killed.

According to Lt. Mariner, the woman — who is said to own 11 other snakes — sustained non life-threatening injuries.

The remains of the boa constrictor were thrown away in a rubbish bin.

With Australia containing over 140 species of land snake and around 32 species of sea snake, Hoser stressed the importance of educating ourselves and our children.

Asthma Treatment

July 31, 2017UncategorizedCourses, first aid course, first aid course canberra, First Aid Courses, first aid trainingRyan Davis Philip

First Aid Courses in Canberra. After reading this information make sure you book in to a first aid course with us at Canberra First Aid and learn the practical skills for first aid treatment.

Breathing is something most of us take for granted. However, not everyone is as fortunate.

Take five-year-old Jesse for example that narrates, “When I have my asthma attack, I feel like a fish with no water.” Ask any general practitioner and they will agree that asthma is one of the most common presentations in general practice.

In my experience, numerous patients refuse to accept the diagnosis and in many instances will say – “I only get wheezy when I have a cold” or state that “I’ve grown out of my asthma and am symptom free “, when in reality they are coughing frequently or getting short of breath and wheezy.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, 235 million people suffer from asthma worldwide.

To put this figure in perspective, it is the total combined population of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Singapore and Malaysia!

Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children. Asthma is not just a public health problem for high-income countries: it occurs in all countries regardless of level of development. Sadly, over 80 per cent of asthma deaths occur in low and lower-middle income countries including Fiji.

In 2014, Fiji ranked number eight out of 172 countries in the world with regards to mortality rate from asthma with 21.85 per 100,000 population.

There were about 128 deaths from asthma in Fiji in 2014. (WHO, 2014)

It is known that asthma is under-diagnosed and under-treated throughout the world creating a substantial burden to individuals and families and possibly restricting individuals’ activities for a lifetime.

Acute asthma attack

An acute asthma attack can be classified as mild/moderate, severe or life threatening. It is important to recognise the signs and symptoms early and to start first aid before it is too severe.

Mild/Moderate

Minor difficulty breathing
Able to talk in full sentences
Able to walk/move around
May have a wheeze or a cough

Start First aid if the above happens

Severe

Obvious difficulty in breathing
Unable to speak a full sentence in one breath
Tugging in of the skin between ribs or the base of the neck
May have wheeze or cough
Reliever medication not lasting as long as usual

If the above happens call the ambulance on 911 and commence asthma first aid

Life threatening

Gasping for breath
Unable to speak 1 -2 words per breath
Confused or exhausted
Turning blue
Collapsing
May no longer have wheeze or cough
May not respond to reliever medication

If the above happens, call 911 and commence asthma first aid

Asthma First Aid (Adapted from Asthma Australia website)

Sit the person upright

Be calm and reassuring
Do not leave the person alone

Give 4 puffs of blue/grey reliever puffer- ventolin or salbutamol

Shake puffer
Put 1 puff through spacer
Take 4 breaths from the spacer
Repeat until 4 puffs have been taken

So don’t forget – 1 puff 4 breaths

Wait for 4 minutes

If there is no improvement then give 4 more puffs of reliever medication

If there is still no improvement call the ambulance and continue give 4 puffs every 4 minutes

Managing Asthma

Although asthma cannot be cured, appropriate management can control the disease and enable people to enjoy good quality of life.

A common myth is that most children will outgrow asthma. Some children do outgrow their asthma, however many do not, especially those with severe symptoms.

Short-term medications are used to relieve symptoms. These are called reliever medications.

The above inhalers ventolin and asmol contain salbutamol and are called reliever medications. They provide quick relief from asthma symptoms. Reliever medications start to work within minutes and the effects last for up to 4 hours. They relax the muscle around the outside of the airway and help open it up.

All people with asthma must have a reliever medication so that they can use it whenever they have symptoms.

However, if you find that you need to use the reliever medication more than twice a week (other than prior to exercise) then you need to consult with your doctor as your asthma may not be well controlled and there may be a need for preventer medication.

Possible side effects include increased heart rate and tremor of the hands, which are short-lived and occur when increased doses are required during an acute asthma attack.

People with persistent symptoms must take preventer medication daily to control the underlying inflammation, reduce swelling and prevent symptoms and exacerbations.

The above inhalers becotide and flixotide are inhaled steroid medications. Possible side effects include a sore throat, hoarse voice, or oral thrush.

These side effects may be reduced by using a spacer and rinsing your mouth after using the inhaler. There are other combination inhalers that are also used.

Other Acute Medications

These medications are used for treating a sudden or severe asthma flare-up.

It is a corticosteroid liquid or tablet that is taking for a short time 3-7 days to reduce inflammation. With short courses ongoing side effects are unlikely. Longer term or frequent use can lead to side effects such as thinning of skin and growth issues in children.

A spacer is a plastic container with a mouthpiece at one end and a hole for the asthma inhaler at the other. The medication is fired from the puffer into the spacer and is then inhaled. By using a spacer it is easier to take the medication and it also ensures that more of the medication is delivered into the lungs. It is recommended that all children use spacers with their reliever and preventer medication.

Adults are recommended to use their spacer with their preventer medication and with or without the spacer for their reliever medication.

Many studies have shown that using a spacer with your reliever medication in an asthma flare-up is as effective as or even better than using a nebulizer and its faster and easier and there may be fewer side effects.

We can see that asthma is a chronic disease that cannot be cured but can be managed with commitment from the patient and family and regular visits with your doctor.

Wise words by 17-year- old patient named Sydney, “one step at a time, inhaler in hand I will fulfill my dreams and live life to the fullest”.

Till we meet next week, keep calm and breathe!

Check out our first aid courses at www.canberrafirstaid.com

Do airline Cabin Crew have sufficient First Aid Training

July 28, 2017UncategorizedRyan Davis Philip

First Aid Training Canberra. There are many industries starting to add first aid training to their list of priorities but we are still falling behind. Book in to a first aid training course now so you are prepared. Here is a link to our courses.

Ryanair hit headlines recently after a passenger was burnt by scalding tea on one of its flights – and the incident has cast doubt over whether cabin crew are getting the right first aid training.

Val Tredget, 51, suffered burns on her legs after her tea spilt on a flight to Budapest. While accidents happen, the first aid care she then received from a flight attendant appeared to be incorrect.

Ms Tredget, who is a nurse, claims she asked for cold water but was instead given paper towels. She told the Daily Mail: “I pulled the trouser leg up and said, ‘Look, it’s blistering already, I need water. I am a nurse, I know what’s needed’. She just looked at me. I said, ‘You need to pour water on it.’ She ran off to the back of the plane and came back with a handful of blue paper towels and said, ‘Here, use them all.’ I am not quite sure what she thought they would be good for.

She said she was then offered ice and cooling gels, which was backed up by a Ryanair spokesperson. They said: “The customer in question received first aid from our cabin crew including ice, healing gels and a dressing, and declined the crew’s offer of further medical assistance, or being met on arrival by paramedics in Budapest.”

This assertion was reinforced in a letter from Ryanair to Ms Tredget in response to her complaint about the incident. It read: “We sincerely regret this accident but this was not caused by our crew. You were then provided with all of the first aid facilities we carry on board including towels, ice, cooling first aid gels and dressings.”

The Ryanair letter concluded by saying: “May we respectively [sic] suggest that you take more care when handling hot drinks on board an aircraft.”

However, as Ms Tredget had already identified, the “first aid” offered to her totally contradicts the St John Ambulance advice for burns. The organisation recommends the following: “Start cooling the burn as quickly as possible. Run it under cool water for at least ten minutes or until the pain feels better (whichever is longer). If there is no water available, you could use cold milk or canned drinks.

“Don’t use ice, creams or gels – they can damage tissues and increase risk of infection.”

Ms Tredget had peeling skin and blisters on her legs; the incident has now left her badly scarred.

“In my opinion their first aid training must be rubbish,” she said. “Apparently this is the most common accident you get on planes so they should have better training.”

A Ryanair spokesperson told The Independent: “All Ryanair aircraft carry first aid equipment, in full compliance with EU safety regulations, and all crew are trained in first aid procedures. Should an incident occur in flight which requires further medical intervention, our crew divert to the nearest suitable airport and request medical assistance to be on standby before landing.”

17 Brides You Can’t UnseeSemesterz

China’s New Jet Is Straight Out Of A Sci-Fi MovieHistoryInOrbit.com

Eva Longoria Takes a DNA Test with Surprising ResultsAncestryDNA®

However, the airline did not respond when asked why Ms Tredget was given first aid that does not fit with accepted best practice.

“Cabin crew are trained in emergency and standard operating procedures and of course first aid,” Isobel Kearl, national training officer for St John Ambulance, told The Independent. “According to the Civil Aviation Authority, all personnel must receive appropriate regular training in first aid to enable them to provide immediate assistance in the event of an accident. We cannot comment specifically on what content they teach – however, burns and scalds are covered in all St John Ambulance first aid at work courses.”

Independent consumer travel expert and former MD of Holiday Travel Watch, Frank Brehany, told The Independent: “Hot drink spills are a common feature of commercial flights. Sometimes these incidents will occur because of the cramped conditions of an aircraft and sudden turbulence experienced in flight.

“Apart from European and National Regulations, each airline will be further guided by their chief medical officer who will input into how staff are trained and the type of first aid materials that can be carried on aircraft.

“It is clear that there is a dispute between the parties in [the Ryanair] case, but it would ordinarily be expected that swift and appropriate action be provided to an injured passenger.”

He added: “If the allegations are correct, it would tend to suggest that a review of first aid training, either for this crew, or more generally, should be considered urgently.”

In addition to the question of training, airlines have come under scrutiny with regards to life-saving equipment.

In June 2015, coroner Alan Walsh urged European airlines to carry defibrillators – which they are currently not required to do – after a woman died of an undiagnosed heart condition onboard a Ryanair flight.

A defibrillator can shock the heart back into action after cardiac arrest, but there wasn’t one on board when Davina Tavener, 47, collapsed.

Walsh said: “I don’t believe there is any difference between short-haul flights and long-haul flights. It takes a second to have a cardiac event and, sadly, cardiac events don’t choose whether they are 10 minutes into a flight or 10 hours into a flight.

“If you are, by the nature of air travel, trapped in aircraft without access to any other facility, the authorities need to consider the equipment to be carried on those airlines, whether it’s short haul or long haul.”

He said he would be writing to the European Aviation Safety Agency, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Irish Aviation Authority about the possibility of installing defibrillators on board.

First aid courses teacher saved by pupils

July 26, 2017UncategorizedRyan Davis Philip

First Aid Courses in Canberra. Hurry book now using our STUDENT coupon to receive 10% off all courses. We cover asthma, anaphylaxis, CPR, burns, bites and stings and much more. Check us out at www.canberrafirstaid.com

St John Ambulance volunteer fell into coma following cardiac arrest Getty

$10 million Powerball jackpot winner rushed to hospital in shock

July 25, 2017UncategorizedRyan Davis Philip

First aid course Canberra. We don’t do first aid for euphoria but I wish someone would need to treat me for this. ha. We do cover shock however. Book in to the best first aid course in Canberra. We have limited seating so get in early.

A NEW Zealand man who scooped $10.3 million ($AU9 million) in the Powerball jackpot collapsed and was rushed to hospital after seeing all the zeros in his bank account.

Lou Te Keeti’s doctor later diagnosed it “as a case of euphoria”.

“I hadn’t really believed it until it hit my bank account. I was still thinking this might be a hoax, even though I had an email and had spoken to the people at the Lotto, it didn’t seem real.

“But when I opened my computer on Wednesday morning and saw my accounts, most of them were as usual with not much in, then there was this one account with all these zeros.

It dawned and I thought ‘whoa, this is for real.’”

He still went off to do his usual grocery shopping but started to have “flutters” in Pak’nSave, the New Zealand Herald reports.

“I was feeling not myself, quite strange, and they got me in an ambulance and I had all these tests and stayed a night in Tauranga Hospital. I saw all these docs but I didn’t tell any of them that I had just won Lotto.”

His GP told him the turn was “a case of euphoria”.

Now Tauranga’s newest millionaire, who is in his 70s, is planning to use a “fighting fund” to reopen Treaty negotiations for his family’s Treaty claim.

Mr Te Keeti didn’t believe he’d actually won until he checked his bank balance.Source:Supplied

“I have my own ‘wai’ number, but the Crown decided not to hear my claim. Personal claims were put under the umbrella of the one settlement and I believe that is a breach of natural justice.”

At the time, Te Keeti had no means to pay lawyers to pursue his own family claim,

“But now I do.”

If successful, his case could set a precedent for other family claims to be reopened, he says,

“There is a saying, ‘Ma te ture te ture ano e patu (use the law to fight the law).”

“That is what I am going to do. I am fortunate in my win. It has enabled me to care for my whanau and those in the marae. I love my family and I love my Maori people and I am going to use this money to fight for justice for my family, for my people. The wrongs, what we lost, have not been properly addressed. For the rest of my life, I will fight for this justice.”

Te Keeti is also planning an extra special 50th-anniversary wedding celebration next year at his marae with his wife Val, their four adult children and seven mokopuna. He plans to use his winnings to look after his whanau, his marae, his community, and “to fight for justice.”

Speaking to the Bay of Plenty Times exclusively from Wairoa Marae on the Wairoa River where he is senior kaumatua and kaitiaki (guardian) Te Keeti said he made a last-minute decision to buy a ticket online on the Saturday night of July 8. He was unaware that anyone from Tauranga had won a big prize as he was attending a tangi at the marae for his cousin.

“I saw this email on Sunday from MyLotto but all it said was ‘You have won a prize,’ but I thought it would be about $1000 and thought well that’s great, but the next day I just went to the tangi and carried on as normal. It wasn’t until I spoke to them on the phone I learned the full amount, but it did not hit home until I saw it in the account.”

Two of his children live overseas in Australia so he broke the news to them over the phone.

“I don’t think they really took it in so I sent them a photo of the winning ticket.”

His wife Val was also still coming to terms with it.

Lou Te Keeti with his grandchildren. Pictures: New Zealand HeraldSource:Supplied

“We have lived in the same house here for 30 years just 250 metres from the marae and we brought all our children up here. We lived a good but very modest life. So in the days after the win, I thought I would surprise Val by giving her a dream house and got all these plans to get architects and designers and what not. But instead of being happy we actually had a big barney about it and she stormed out telling me ‘I could get stuffed with my fancy plans’.”

That taught me a valuable lesson. That was the moment I came back down to earth. I had been getting carried away with things. Val came back and touched the timber walls of our house and she said to me ‘Lou, a big fancy house, that is not us, this is us’. And she tapped the wall and reminded me that the house we lived was made from timber from the pines in the kiwifruit orchard we used to have in the early years of our marriage.”

Te Keeti said he was not drawn to big purchases of material things,

“I need a new car and, yes, I will probably get myself one, but not until I’ve mended the cement on the pathway in the marae and tarsealed the pathways in the cemetery.”

He wasn’t planning any lavish holidays.

“Val and I talked about that if we wanted to go anywhere, but we decided we have everything we need right here in Tauranga. But I have always wanted to go to the Melbourne Cup so I thought we could go, not this year as I am too busy at the marae, but maybe next year.”

As for indulgences, Te Keeti says he has few.

“I used to play golf and made many dear friends there but I gave it up in 2008 as I had too many responsibilities to take care of at the marae. But one thing Val and I have always been keen on doing is to breed thoroughbreds. It is a passion that brings us together so we will do that.”

Te Keeti says he has already organised his winnings so that his family are looked after.

For the mokopuna, he wanted not just to give them funds, but to teach them values of using them so he has set up a development fund in which they each have a 10 percent share, and he has the rest. The fund will be used to “accumulate wealth to secure not only their future but give them the philosophies to secure the future of their own generations to come.”

“The moko, when I watch them play, they love to play Monopoly. So I thought okay I am not just going to give them money but teach them about the fundamentals business and budgeting. I don’t need to teach them the technology because they know all that. We have had even started our first project — we have purchased a $300 shed which we are going to pick up, relocate here, put flooring and insulation in, paint it, make it self-contained and then rent it out. So we will look at different projects like this, starting small, but building up.”

He will also keep them grounded he said, despite the win, and did not them want to focus on the material,

“They were excited of course but they are handling it well and I said koro has been fortunate but this doesn’t change how you behave, you still mind your ps and qs, be respectful.”

Te Keeti said he wanted to help people on the marae and had taken out some of the people for a little celebration of the win,

“It wasn’t a feast of thousands. We just went down the road to the local, The Orchard at Bethlehem Town Centre. Good Kiwi meal.”

He also wanted to give some money to local charities and has put money aside to give $100,000 each to Waipuna Hospice, the local Heart Foundation, and a local diabetes charity,

“These are areas that keep coming up in statistics for Maori and I want to contribute to the good work they do.”

He also said he wouldn’t mind giving some money to “that guy, what’s his name, Gareth from the Opportunities Party. If I was going to put money with any of them, with the election coming up, I would put it with him because he is an economist. I would like to meet him actually. I used to be a treehugger but the Green Party haven’t done anything and if they are lining up with the Labour Party, well they are going nowhere. I like Paula Bennett, I think she could be Prime Minister, she fronts up and she takes questions on the chin and that is what you want in a leader. But if you ask me where I would put my money, it would be with TOP.”

Te Keeti says his own life journey in business has had its ups and downs.

When he and Val first moved to the area in the late 70s his father gave him land for their kiwifruit orchard business, but in the early 80s it became a casualty of the industry and he lost the business,

“I was devastated, and it hurt financially and emotionally and I felt terrible because my father had given me the land but he said ‘son, it was too heavy a burden for you to carry’.

It was in his public roles where Te Keeti had great success representing his people and marae.

Fluent in te reo, he is passionate about his culture, history and politics. His name Te Keeti means Gate, and was taken on by his great grandfather whose twin brother was mortally wounded in the Battle of Gate Pa.

In 1998 Te Keeti says he was in the first class ever to complete a degree in Maori studies along with the late Awanui Black. In 2004 he was appointed to the inaugural Tangata Whenua subcommittee of Tauranga City Council and was the inaugural chairperson.

“I didn’t really relish the role. It felt like I was the council’s rubber stamp, the token Maori ‘go to’ at the end for anything cultural and it didn’t always sit easy with me, so there were clashes but we all had respect for each other.”

Formerly chairman of Wairoa Marae and now its most senior kaumatua and kaitiaki (Guardian), his marae represents three hapu: Ngati Kahu, Ngati Pango and Ngati Ranginui. Te Keeti has been heavily involved in historic treaty negotiations, and was involved in the Treaty negotiations for Ngati Ranginui and was chair of Ngati Ranginui when it became the first Tauranga iwi to sign a Terms of Negotiation For Treaty Settlement with the Crown.

He is very supportive of the current protests of Tauranga Moana iwi group, consisting of Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Pukenga and Ngati Rangi, against Hauraki who are claiming a foothold in the region, although Te Keeti himself has not attended any of the protests involving flotillas of waka at the port and protest marches.

Only last Sunday 500 marchers ended up at Te Keeti’s marae and did a mass haka, with many dressed as warriors and in costumes reflecting the Battle of Gate Pa.

“I did not go but I support them fully … I have always been politically active but I am not an active protester. So that fight will be fought but I will be expanding my energies on another fight.”

But today, he had some yard work to do in the marae. Then a shower, a bite to eat in his local with Val,

“And I said to her for a treat we would go for a drive. In the old car.”

This story first appeared in the new Zealand Herald and is republished with permission.

Nurse gets limited first aid training on plane

July 21, 2017UncategorizedRyan Davis Philip

First Aid Training in Canberra. Fast training sessions. Excellent Trainers. Good online first aid training. Canberra locations include Phillip, Woden, Belconnen, Dickson and the City.

Nurse, 51, suffers horrific burns ‘after Ryanair stewardess spilled hot tea down her leg’ on flight to Budapest

By Rebecca Taylor For Mailonline

PUBLISHED: 18:18 +10:00, 20 July 2017 | UPDATED: 23:55 +10:00, 20 July 2017

+10

Val Tredget, 51, is concerned she may be left with permanent scarring after the burn

A nurse left badly scarred when a Ryanair stewardess spilled hot tea on her leg has criticised the airline for ‘shambolic’ attempts at first aid.

Val Tredget says she was left howling in agony when an inexperienced airline host knocked a cup of tea over her leg as she sat between her sisters on a flight to Budapest.

The 51-year-old claims she begged staff to take action and they were clueless, but the Irish airline denies this, and says the nurse was given full treatment.

Ms Tredget claims staff were clueless – handing her a pile of dry blue paper towels before getting a sick bag with cubes of ice, in instead of supplying as much cool water as possible.

A Ryanair spokesman said: ‘These claims are untrue. All hot drinks on board Ryanair flights are served in fully sealed cups with lids securely fixed before being served to customers, and our crew have confirmed this procedure was correctly followed in this case.

‘The customer in question received first aid from our cabin crew including ice, healing gels and a dressing, and declined the crew’s offer of further medical assistance, or being met on arrival by paramedics in Budapest.’

Ms Tredget was left with skin peeling off her leg as it blistered, leaving her badly scarred.

The mother-of-two from Chelmsford, Essex, complained to the Irish firm’s head office and sent a series of gruesome photos of her injuries.

But she was left fuming after Ryanair wrote to her insisting she was responsible for the spill, even sending her a ‘patronising’ e-mail telling her to take more care with hot drinks.

Ms Tredget has now taken advice from a senior solicitor and plans to take legal action against the firm.

+10

A stewardess spilled a cup of hot tea on the nurse’s leg, leaving her with blisters and causing her skin to peel off

Left, Ms Tredget on the holiday to Budapest, and right, at home. She said she couldn’t do as much while away, like go to the spas, because of her dressings

‘They didn’t actually have tea with them on the trolley so the girl went to get it – she passed me one and I gave it to my sister, she gave me a second one and then went to put down the third for the aisle seat but missed the little cut out in the tray and the tea fell over and went all down my leg.

‘None of us even touched the cup – she was putting it down. I jumped up and screamed “that’s really hot”.

‘A male flight attendant came down the plane and asked what happened and the stewardess said “it was hot water from the urn”.

‘She’d just been to the back of the plane and made it.

‘I pulled the trouser leg up and said “look it’s blistering already, I need water. I am a nurse I know what’s needed”.

‘She just looked at me – I said you need to pour water on it. She ran off to the back of the plane and came back with a handful of blue paper towels and said “here, use them all”.

‘I am not quite sure what she thought they would be good for – perhaps she wanted me to clean the plane up.’

+10

Ms Tredget said her holiday to Budapest was ruined because she had to keep changing her dressings and attending to her injuries

+10

According to the airline, Ms Tredget was given ice and healing gels and denied an offer of medical assistance when she got off the plane

Ms Tredget looked on in horror as her leg continued to blister with the skin peeling off due, she says to the lack of appropriate action to tackle the scalding.

Paediatric nurse Ms Tredget was then taken to the back of the plane as the stewardess applied some cooling gel dressing meant for burns.

She said: ‘By now a few minutes had passed – you need to treat a burn instantly and the longer you leave it, it carries on burning and just gets worse.’

She desperately tried to ease the pain by soaking the blue towels in water from the sink but found the water was warm so could not help.

When she returned to her seat the stewardess then brought her some ice – in one of the plane’s sick bags.

She said: ‘I just wanted to cool the burn down but later on when I asked for more ice she said “you will have to wait until I have finished serving”.

+10

Ms Tredget shared images on Facebook of her injuries when the airline took their time to reply to her letter

+10

The letter Ryanair sent the nurse, telling her they believe she caused the spill by taking hold of the cup by the lid

‘I think they were more interested in selling their duty free and their scratch cards and not really interested in doing anything about my leg. It was shambolic.

‘Finally at the end of the flight the head stewardess came over and said “which one of you was it that was injured?” She then said “I’m really sorry” and walked away and that was it.

‘She should have been taking the lead.

‘Their first aid training must be rubbish – apparently this is the most common accident you get on planes so they should have better training.’

The sisters’ weekend away was ruined by the ordeal.

‘I was having to change my dressings twice a day and the burns were already oozing a lot.

‘Budapest is famous for its spas but of course we could not go and do anything like that. It ruined my weekend,’ she added.

Ms Tredget, who qualified as a nurse in 1984, has taken specialist advice and hopes the dark red scars will fade during the next couple of years.

‘I do wear a lot of dresses so the scarring – which is above my knee – is visible all the time. It’s just not nice.

She and her sisters flew from London Stansted to Budapest on Friday June 2.

She’s now called on the company, run by chief executive Michael O’Leary, to overhaul its first aid procedures.

‘Accidents happen and I accept that but if that had been a baby on the end of that spill, it would have been catastrophic.

‘I just want them to do something so that this does not happen to someone else.’

‘They also have to review their first aid – why don’t they have a simple thing that if someone wants a hot drink on a plane? They should have cups with a screw-on lids.

+10

Ms Tredget claims she was not given proper first aid, but was just handed dry blue paper towels, which she then had to soak in lukewarm water

Ryanair were sent all of Ms Tredget’s photos but despite two messages of complaint on their website, she was left waiting for weeks for a response.

Val is married to engineer husband Kevin, 54, and the couple have two children – Jack, 23, and Abbey, 21.

Her sister, Joyce Thorpe, 64, was also covered in the hot tea but did not suffer injuries as she was wearing thick trousers.

She said: ‘I have a feeling that lid was not properly on really.

‘She’d [the stewardess] come from the back of the plane because lots of people round us were not having hot drinks.

‘I don’t think the lid was on properly at all.’

Ms Thorpe, a retired special needs teacher, flies around the world as a volunteer for blind and visually impaired travellers going on holidays.

The grandmother-of-one from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, slammed Ryanair for its version of events, and added ‘I am just appalled that they are calling Val a liar.’

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Rural Areas Leave First Aid Gap

Recent post

‘widespread’ OHS problems

Chef ‘frightened’

‘Sooks’

Recent post

Sneaking banned foods into your child’s lunch box can kill

Recent post

How Do You Teach Your Child To Manage Food Allergies At School?

Recent post

Snake decapitated after latching onto owner’s face

Firefighters chop head off boa constrictor attacking woman’s face

Recent post

Asthma Treatment

Recent post

Do airline Cabin Crew have sufficient First Aid Training

Recent post

First aid courses teacher saved by pupils

First Aid Courses in Canberra. Hurry book now using our STUDENT coupon to receive 10% off all courses. We cover asthma, anaphylaxis, CPR, burns, bites and stings and much more. Check us out at www.canberrafirstaid.com

Recent post

$10 million Powerball jackpot winner rushed to hospital in shock

Recent post

Nurse gets limited first aid training on plane

Recent post

Recent post

Chef ‘frightened’

‘Sooks’

Recent post

Recent post

Recent post

Firefighters chop head off boa constrictor attacking woman’s face

Recent post

Recent post

Ryanair’s random seat allocation system: cracking the code

Ryanair threatens to cancel flights between UK and EU after Brexit

Recent post

First Aid Courses in Canberra. Hurry book now using our STUDENT coupon to receive 10% off all courses. We cover asthma, anaphylaxis, CPR, burns, bites and stings and much more. Check us out at www.canberrafirstaid.com

READ MORE

Recent post

Recent post

Recent post