Eastbourne District Scout
First Aid Team

Services Offered

Sections within this page	Other related links on website
First Aid Provision First Aid Training Walking First Aiders Communications	First Aid Supplies - online shop Resources available to EDSFAT High visibility products First Aid Training Event booking form (35kb) EDSFAT charging policy for events from 1st April 2010 - 31st March 2011 (64kb)

EDSFAT are able to provide a number of specialist services in order to "Support Scouting Events".

FIRST AID PROVISION

The main function of the Team is in providing First Aid cover at Scouting events. This can be as little as two Team members sitting in a car with a First Aid kit through to a full attendance with both walking and mobile First Aiders, on site treatment area, First Aid Treatment Trailer and both Ambulances.

Our vehicles are usually operated as mobile first aid points but can be used as ambulances at appropriate events, they carry a range of first aid and medical equipment to help the team deliver the best possible care including simple portable First Aid Kits containing plasters, bandages and dressings. The First Aid Units also carry a further range of First Aid equipment to help provide more extensive treatments where necessary, this equipment includes:

Diagnostic equipment
Medical gases
Safety equipment
Eye wash equipment
Burns treatment packs
Hypothermia kits
Vacuum Splints

The Units also carry a range of stretchers:

Orthopaedic Scoop
Furley Foldable
Basket Rescue
York Trolley

The First Aid Units are always crewed by appropriately qualified volunteers. Where possible we will staff with a female and a male crew member.

When required EDSFAT can use its experience with events to provide a more medically orientated provision. EDSFAT is able to provide a number of more experienced staff with additional training, this can include providing medical gases (such as oxygen and the pain relieving gas entonox) and more advanced diagnostic equipment as well as some important life saving medication. EDSFAT also has a number of members who work in the medical profession, these include a doctor, trainee doctor, emergency practitioner nurse, physiotherapists and community carers all of whose services we can call upon if necessary. Many of these members are also trained as First Aiders and attend regular events in that role but can provide the more advanced treatments if required. As well as providing our in-house members over the years we have built up a strong relationship with a number of Scout First Aid Teams around the UK and we provide assistance to them at large events and vice-versa.

When EDSFAT is asked to attend any large event (usually over 500 people) we start to think about using our Large Event experience to put together a suitable First Aid / Medical provision. The most basic part of this is using the Large Event equipment, which includes large quantities of First Aid equipment commonly needed at large events. See the resources page for more information.

As well as being able to provide the two First Aid Units, described above, EDSFAT is also able to provide a couple of Immediate Response Vehicles. The first is a vehicle normally used to transport the Doctor and their equipment to an incident. The second is a Land Rover Discovery and provides a 4x4 offroad capability for faster access to an incident away from a road. See the resources page for more information.

FIRST AID TRAINING

EDSFAT provide First Aid training for many of the leaders in East Sussex. This is organised through the East Sussex County Training office. EDSFAT is able to teach both First Response courses and Red Cross one day first aid courses. This enables EDSFAT, if required to do so, to teach an externally recognised course for members of the Scout Association to use.

As well as running some of the County First Aid courses EDSFAT also attends local groups and Districts to provide First Aid training for the young people. The new Scout Association progressive "Emergency Aid" badge scheme provides a structured set of areas that have to be covered, increasing in knowledge as they move up through their groups.

More information regarding the First Aid training provided by EDSFAT can be found here

WALKING FIRST AIDERS (for Hikes)

Occasionally EDSFAT is asked to provide walking First Aiders for hikes. The walking First Aiders can be deployed to join one or a number of event organised walking teams on hikes. The preferred ratio is for two First Aiders to join one event organisers team. The walking First Aiders will be able to provide assistance at an incident, be that assessing a hike team, providing minor treatment, through to coordinating a much fuller response requiring vehicles and specialist treatments and casualty transport.

All walking First Aiders are experienced walkers with training in navigation, search techniques and First Aid. If walking First Aiders have been requested to attend a hike they will remain at an "On Course" location through out, familiarising themselves with the route and terrain for that event. If the event organisers do require them to be deployed they will have plans in place for an immediate response.

COMMUNICATIONS

For communication within EDSFAT we operate a Private Mobile Radio (PMR) system controlled from our mobile control room, an ex ambulance service major incident control vehicle. For communication with event organisers we have access to both CB radios and to amateur radio frequencies as a number of our members are licensed radio amateurs.

EDSFAT has access to a number of specialised masts and antennas to ensure effective communication is always possible allowing us to coordinate our response in an effective, safe, timely manner.

Whilst in attendance at an event there is always a single mobile number that can be used to contact the team, this can be widely published, if required, to leaders and young people alike.

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