Stayin’ Alive with Blackpool Airport’s Fire Training Courses

Stayin’ Alive with Blackpool Airport’s Fire Training Courses

Posted on 17 Jul 2013

If you'd had told me that at 11am on Monday morning I'd be performing CPR on a human dummy to the beat of Bee Gees' 'Staying Alive,' at Blackpool Airport's Aviation and Operations Centre, I probably wouldn't have believed you. But, as the famous Saturday Night Fever hit bellowed through the room and our course leader Alastair Rooke praised me after successfully completing my '30 chest compressions,' it dawned on me that I was rather enjoying my rather surreal training experience.

When ICG's client, Blackpool Airport, told the team about its wide range of high quality corporate fire safety training courses, that are delivered on-site by the Airport's Fire Station, I was rather intrigued and so I volunteered to go down and see what they were all about.

As I have already completed a fire marshall training course, I opted for a one day refresher course which included a mixture of first aid, fire awareness theory and my favourite part of the day, the fire extinguisher practical, which involved me being able to put out three blazing fires under the watchful eyes of two firemen - what's not to love?!

After testing a water, foam, dry powder and CO2 fire extinguisher on a deserted part of the airfield and being transported back to training HQ on a fire engine, it was time for the first aid part of the course.

Even though it was a refresher session, it was really surprising at how much I had forgotten/didn't know and after completing the course, god forbid there was ever an incident, I am confident that I would be able to provide basic support for the casualty until relieved by the paramedics.

So, going back to the Bee Gees, Alastair said that when administering CPR, a good way to remember what pace to perform the 30 chest compressions is to do them in sync with the chorus: "Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive. Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive." So if you ever bear witness to someone being resuscitated to that song, its highly likely they will have undertaken the health and safety course at Blackpool Airport.

The guys at the Airport's fire service team really know their stuff and offer a variety of industry recognised training programmes, for businesses large and small. For further information give Alastair a call on 01253 472525.

Before I go, I've put together a mini quiz on some of the things I learnt on the course - if you get more than two wrong I'd give the Airport's fire service team a call - not only are the courses a lot of fun, you could end up saving someone's life.

Questions

1. Why can't you wear disposable latex gloves for infection control? 2. What is the biggest organ in your body? 3. What is hypoxaemia? 4. What is the DR ABC action plan? 5. What side should you always lay a pregnant woman on for the recovery position?

Answers

1. Latex allergies are very common. 2. Your skin is your largest organ. It covers your entire body and has a surface area of around two square metres. 3. Hypoxaemia is a lack of circulating oxygen in the body. 4. When you approach the scene of an accident or emergency, follow the DR ABC Action Plan: DANGER. RESPOND. AIRWAY. BREATHING. CIRCULATION. 5. Always put an unconscious pregnant woman in recovery position on her left side. This prevents compression by the uterus, which could be fatal for both the mother and the child.

 

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