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#41 Posted : 25 November 2011 11:33:05(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
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Paul

I think you are supporting what I am saying - you have had training that covers a bit more than basic first aid - but a standard 1st aider? I know the first aider in my department very well and his knowledge is fantastic, I have seen him deal with a suspected cardiac arrest - but I would not want him counseling me. Nothing to do with his gender or anything else just not trained which I suspect is the case for most first aiders.
hilary  
#42 Posted : 25 November 2011 11:39:35(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
hilary

Please re-read my post. I use the word "counselling" as in "to seek advice from a knowledgeable or trained person" rather than, as you all appear to have assumed "a counsellor". It is very clear and unambiguous in both my posts that it is counselling (advice) about minor personal health issues, ie "should I see a doctor about this" type of thing rather than someone to talk to.

Please do not berate me when you have clearly misunderstood.
Clairel  
#43 Posted : 25 November 2011 11:43:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Clairel

hilary wrote:
Please re-read my post. I use the word "counselling" as in "to seek advice from a knowledgeable or trained person" rather than, as you all appear to have assumed "a counsellor". It is very clear and unambiguous in both my posts that it is counselling (advice) about minor personal health issues, ie "should I see a doctor about this" type of thing rather than someone to talk to.

Please do not berate me when you have clearly misunderstood.


Even when explaining the subtleties of your choice of words it does not alter the fact that a first aider is not trained to know whether further advice is sought from a doctor or pharmacist or not. I certainly wouldn't consider most first aiders to be 'knowledgeable' except wihtin the confines of what they were taught (and even then most of them would have forgotten most of it very quickly).

HSSnail  
#44 Posted : 25 November 2011 11:47:44(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
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Hilary

I am sorry if I berated you that was not my intention but again I feel the role of a first aider is very clearly defined I despair of first aiders who think they are trained to give medical advice of such a nature - what if they said "don't see a doctor" its not what first aid is about treatment for an injury etc that occurs not some medical condition.

HSSnail  
#45 Posted : 25 November 2011 11:48:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
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Clairel

Thank you for that you must have posted while I was typing.
David Bannister  
#46 Posted : 25 November 2011 12:13:55(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
David Bannister

I generally dislike copy & paste responses but in this instance I think it may be useful to refer to the HSE ACOP:
“first-aid” means –
(a) in cases where a person will need help from a medical practitioner or nurse, treatment for the purpose of preserving life and minimising the consequences of injury and illness until such help is obtained, and
(b) treatment of minor injuries which would otherwise receive no treatment or which do not need treatment by a medical practitioner or nurse;

This clear definition forms the basis for most first aid training courses, and most course providers make clear that first aid is for the above purposes.

The ACOP makes no mention of choosing or providing first aiders based on gender.

First aiders providing additional medical advice in an employment situation are acting for the employers, possibly without the employers realising that there could be adverse consequences.
Paul Duell  
#47 Posted : 25 November 2011 12:17:44(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Paul Duell

hilary wrote:
It is very clear and unambiguous in both my posts that it is counselling (advice) about minor personal health issues, ie "should I see a doctor about this" type of thing rather than someone to talk to.


I stand by my statement in my previous post

Paul Duell wrote:
I would generally say that if someone has a condition they're uncomfortable discussing with a first aider of the opposite gender, it isn't within the competence of an FAW first aider


Or perhaps if I rephrase that to be more appropriate to the context...
if someone has a condition they're uncomfortable discussing with a first aider of the opposite gender, they may as well discuss it with their best mate or any other person they ARE comfortable to discuss it with - because there's going to be nothing in the first aider's training that's helpful.

And yes Brian H, I think we're agreeing!
teh_boy  
#48 Posted : 25 November 2011 13:42:25(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
teh_boy

As it's Friday

After some nerves injected by John's paranoid words... I arrived to 22 girl guides. (22 directors bring it on, I will argue my case with conviction, yet 22 girls aged 11 - 14 and I was scared :)

Fear was confirmed 20 minutes in when I was asked

When doing CPR on a lady what do you with their boobs!

Thanks goodness it's Friday.

I think I understand how the argument about counselling came about, as an advanced first aider I too am often asked odd questions.
I always suggest the red pill, and then refer them to someone who really knows what they are doing :)



HSSnail  
#49 Posted : 25 November 2011 13:50:41(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
HSSnail

Teh boy

As a male SCUBA instructor many years ago I always found it easier to demonstrate CPR on a lady, because if you got it wrong you got your face slapped!

I never got my face slapped I hasten to add.
Irwin43241  
#50 Posted : 25 November 2011 14:55:07(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Guest

Ask the prime minister as I am sure he would be able to sort all this out with a sensible solution.
Clairel  
#51 Posted : 25 November 2011 15:30:43(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Clairel

When I did my outdoor first aid course we had to practice stabilising someone with a possible neck injury on a steep slope. You stabilise them by using your thighs to support either side of their head. We all had to have a go at each of the roles. When I had to play the part of supporting the casualties head between my thighs the young man in question said he was really quite happy to have his head between my thighs!!! lol :-) Good job some us aren't overly sensitive!!!

If I need help, just help me. I don't care if you're male, female or an alien.....but I may draw the line at naked ramblers!!!
Irwin43241  
#52 Posted : 25 November 2011 15:51:13(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Guest

Clairel wrote:
When I did my outdoor first aid course we had to practice stabilising someone with a possible neck injury on a steep slope. You stabilise them by using your thighs to support either side of their head. We all had to have a go at each of the roles. When I had to play the part of supporting the casualties head between my thighs the young man in question said he was really quite happy to have his head between my thighs!!! lol :-) Good job some us aren't overly sensitive!!!

If I need help, just help me. I don't care if you're male, female or an alien.....but I may draw the line at naked ramblers!!!


This post has cheered me up no end. I'm packing in and going home a happy man.
NEE' ONIONS MATE!  
#53 Posted : 25 November 2011 16:07:27(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
NEE' ONIONS MATE!

Irwin43241 wrote:
Ask the prime minister as I am sure he would be able to sort all this out with a sensible solution.


"he has; -'he's having a consultation aboot 'red tape'! Get on-line, and tell 'im straight about how stuff like this is making this country such a crap place to live!" Good neet!

Edited by moderator 26 November 2011 20:40:08(UTC)  | Reason: Blank Lines removed

John D C  
#54 Posted : 26 November 2011 15:02:35(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
John D C

First aiders are taught to recognise certain illnesses - this is a requirement of the regulations. Thus the person who is ill may need to give some information to the first aider that they think is embarrassing if the first aider is of a different gender. In addition the first aider might ask a question that is thought by the person to be embarrassing. Remember this is not the same as asking a doctor or nurse who are mainly unknown to us on a daily basis whereas the first aider is someone many people will come into contact with every workday.

Many people expect first aiders to have a lot more knowledge than they have, and many do have a great knowledge, and this could lead to them thinking that they should be able to ask any medical questions they need answering. Believe me that when I was a Red Cross volunteer people expected me to know all manner of things and when I was a senior officer the expectation was even greater.

As for being treated by someone of a different gender then there is always the risk of being seen to do something that is misinterpreted by the injured person and therefore having someone of the same gender as the casualty present - even if just a passerby - was always considered good practice.

People need to understand what first aiders are allowed to do, including limited illness recognition, but also first aiders should be aware of their limitations and know when to say - "go and see your GP".

johnmurray  
#55 Posted : 26 November 2011 18:18:19(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
johnmurray

Which, since the first aider is, in the majority of cases, NOT a diagnostician should be very time.
I've known a first-aider say "he'll be ok" after a guy was knocked-out by an object falling from a pallet.
Over-ruled and hospital was the answer, for 24 hours observation.
The SIMPLE fact is that VERY FEW first aiders are medically qualified enough to diagnose anything.
I've even ignored a first-aider and gone to hospital myself after crushing a finger....first aider = bruised....hospital = fracture (and the company phoned the hospital and insinuated I was lying....bad move that...they got the A&E consultant who was not impressed)
The company said that only first aiders could enter details in the accident book.....another load of tosh.
Yep, not impressed by first aiders would be me.....
Another company I worked for was just going to send a guy home after he got chest pains...I called an ambulance....angina, but unlike companies I think of the guys....and the first aider was the same as they usually are...easily led.
If you can tell me any reason why a first aider should not ensure his/her safety by having another person present during "treatment", while hospitals make such standard procedure, I would be interested to hear it ?
teh_boy  
#56 Posted : 28 November 2011 08:37:18(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
teh_boy

Irwin43241 wrote:


This post has cheered me up no end. I'm packing in and going home a happy man.


I wish I stopped reading there! Thread ended...
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