LAM First Aid Course

Principal Trainer: Jim Foster

Twice a year LAM hold a First Aid course with a special emphasis, though not entirely, on the consequences of a Road Traffic Accident.

The course this time was held at our usual Tatsfield venue and run once more by Jim Foster.

Jim was in the Metropolitan Police Service for nearly 26½ years. He qualified as a Police First Aid Instructor in 1982, subsequently gained a City & Guilds 7303 Further Education Teaching Certificate (Distinction).

Used as a Foundation Course with the Open University he gained a Professional Diploma in Post Compulsory Education, and in 1996, a Masters of Arts Degree in Education and Training.

The course was thoroughly relaxed, with the theoretical and practical elements interspersed by amusing anecdotes which prevented any possible “nodding off”.

Firstly, I would say the course is entirely practical with us being divided up into small groups at times to practise things like getting the patient into the recovery position – which is not easy with full motorbike gear on.   Questions such as “does one remove the helmet or not?” were answered – in this case it was a definite NO!

I had already attended First Aid courses before but still benefited from the refresher and was reminded of the importance of the Pre-Ride IMSAFE brief regarding:  Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion.

Some interesting tips were given about First Aid kits for emergencies. Lots of rubber gloves, tea towel size cloths and a bottle of saline   are much more use than a box of band aids in a traffic accident!

Nobody knows how they would really react until they are involved in an emergency, but you’ll have much more chance of saving a friend or a stranger from serious complications or even death if you have attended such a course.

Attendance on this course was 9 Associates, 2 Members and 1 Observer.

The next one is on 20^th October so get in early.

Mike Seary

Membership Secretary