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The Octagon Technology team member provides first aid to an unconscious man whilst people stood in shock

First aid atricle

It is unpredictable when an injury or illness may happen to us or the people around us. Therefore, it is extremely important to have basic first aid skills and knowledge, and know how to cope with a medical Emergency situation.

Octagon Technology makes sure all employees are first aid trained and keep up to date with their skills and knowledge.

Recently Jeremy Catton, the Marketing Assistant at Octagon Technology witnessed a medical Emergency and was able to provide a firs aid to an unconscious man who suddenly fell backwards and hit his head hard on the floor in the public place.

Jeremy said: ‘Many onlookers stood and looked on still in shock, but as I had just been given some excellent first aid training by Nick Hargreaves of Hargreaves First Aid Training, I instantly knew exactly what to do, getting down onto the floor and gently bringing him round, continuing to talk to him and to calm him down as I did so. He had drawn blood when his head hit the floor but apart from that he seemed to be back in the room. I stayed with him until the first aider on duty came, I let him know what had happened and let him take over.

I’m glad that I had been given the training so I knew exactly what to do in the situation, and was not stuck on the side-lines as an onlooker.’

Nick Hargreaves, Lead trainer and owner at Hargreaves First Aid said: ‘Teaching first aid is such a rewarding job. When Clive Catton, Technical Director at Octagon Technology called me to say a member of his staff had already put their first aid training into reality, I was extremely pleased. It’s always encouraging to receive positive feedback; first aid is a life skill useful to everyone. As a training provider we always aim to deliver our courses to the highest standards possible. Learner knowledge and confidence is something we work very hard on as this can often make the biggest difference’     

All employees at Octagon Technology undertook their first aid training with Nick at Hargreaves First Aid Training. We are ‘a remote working company,’ working from home and visiting clients at their premises constantly; and all of our employees are first aid trained and have the confidence to deal with any accident that may occur unexpectedly. They are ready to help each other and other people around them if the worst happens.

Undertaking a first aid training course increases safety, helps save lives, helps relieve pain, makes people more secure and can prevent the situation from becoming worse. It is important to know exactly how to recognise and deal with medical emergencies as they happen, we must take care of ourselves and people around us, it is our responsibility.

What’s more, the law insists that employers take care

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. The Regulations apply to all worker places, including those with fewer than five employees.

Kamila