Author: duncan.walsh

EDSFAT have rebooted their twitter account today and will be sending out regular tweets and updates! Follow us @EDSFAT!

Ten members of EDSFAT have just enjoyed a fantastic weekend providing first aid cover and a skills base for the participants of the biannual Lambeth District BNI Competition.  During a weekend of amazing weather, team members not on first aid duty, ran a skills base testing the scout’s ability to deal with a very challenging first aid scenario.

Based around a disco tent, where following a serious incident there were four casualties.

Casualty 1 – had suffered a cardiac arrest.  The Scouts carried out long term CPR and used an AED trainer.

Casualty 2 – had a leg wound and a possible spinal injury.  A good number of Scouts provided quality manual stabilisation of the head and neck as well as dressing the leg wound.

Casualty 3 – was experiencing an asthma attack.  Maybe brought on by long term disco dancing in the smoky dance tent environment!  Scouts were expected to remove the dancer from the tent, encourage her to take her inhaler and sit her down in an appropriate position.

Casualty 4 – had suffered a burn to the arm and open fracture when he fell.  For this casualty, the Scouts were expected to cool the burn and dress with cling film, as well as correctly dressing the open fracture.

To make the Scout challenge even more difficult, Casualty 5 – was unresponsive by the emergency telephone.  As every team sent a single Scout to make the call to the call to the ambulance service, they then had to carry out a Primary Survey and place the casualty into the recovery position as well as making the all important telephone call.

To provide a semi-realistic environment for the scenario, the tent had loud music, flashing coloured lights, loud music and a smoke machine.  Team members dressed for the various roles including party dancers, doorman and responding ambulance staff.

The Scouts showed good levels of first aid knowledge and expertise.

EDSFAT staff also joined with the participants at the Campfire and Talent Show.

21st April was East Sussex Scouts Tune-Up Day in Broadstone Warren Scout Camp and Activity Centre. This was an opportunity for Helpers, Leaders, Administrators and other adult members of East Sussex Scouts to meet, learn about new and different activities, share ideas and best practice. As well as seeing various bases providing practical sessions for Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers.

EDSFAT had staff at the event promoting high quality CPR, the use of AED’s, False Wounds for First Aid training, Team Publicity and fundraising, as well as providing event First Aid cover. A great day for the team, with time to talk to many different section leaders and share new ideas and thoughts.

 

Yesterday, team member Luke West qualified as a medical doctor. EDSFAT are really delighted to congratulate him and wish him well in his future career.

The team provided first aid cover for the 2017 Chiltern 20 event hike.

Eastbourne District Scout First Aid Team have lent a Heartstart Automated External Defibrillator to Eastbourne District Scout Campsite and Activity Centre – Bushy Wood.  https://www.bushywood.org.uk/

With every minute lost between a person suffering a cardiac arrest and being defibrillated reducing the chance of recovery by 10%, having an AED at Bushy Wood may make a significant difference.

Fund Raising at the Festival of Transport

Many members of the team spent either one, two or three days during the August Bank holiday weekend raising funds by parking cars and running a charity collection. The team has raised approximately £2200. 

Congratulations to the members of Eastbourne District Scout First Aid Team receiving their QA Level 2 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work.

For further details please see our Facebook page @EDSFAT

Members of the Eastbourne District Scout First Aid Team have had a really enjoyable time at WS2017.  Many thanks to the organisers for such a great event.