A key focus of today is celebrating women’s achievements in the political, economic, and social spheres. Here at Ajuda, we firmly believe that opportunities for women should be maximised in all walks of life, and particularly in business. This would be beneficial to society as a whole, as increasing the number of women in business could bring huge economic growth – RBS calculated that ‘boosting female entrepreneurship could deliver approximately £60bn extra to the UK economy’.*
The Managing Director and founder of Ajuda, Dawn Evans, was named Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2016 at the South Wales Business Awards. Her initial business plan was to create a business that delivered First Aid training in Cardiff. However, since she established Ajuda in 2009, it has expanded to train thousands of people, both locally and across the UK, in a variety of different courses. It is our aim to truly make a difference to safety standards in the community and further afield, and upskill as many people as possible.
A Role Model for the Welsh Government Big Ideas Programme, Dawn strives to inspire young people to follow the path of entrepreneurship. She often delivers presentations at schools and colleges, where she shares her own experiences of founding a successful local company. Through her role as a business mentor for The Prince’s Trust, she has also given support and advice to young individuals who are entering into self-employment.
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day campaign, #BeBoldforChange, encourages us all to take action to contribute to a more gender equal world: ‘Through purposeful collaboration, we can help women advance and unleash the limitless potential offered to economies the world over.’* We hope that today, by celebrating women in leadership roles, we can promote their visibility – giving them due credit for their success and highlighting role models for other women to be inspired by.
Following last week’s severe weather conditions and the arrival of Storm Doris alongside the promise of further cold weather, rain, wind and wintry showers for the foreseeable future, Ajuda have put together a short list of tips on how to stay safe in extreme weather conditions.
– Keep an eye out for Met Office severe weather warnings.
– Within the home, be prepared for power cuts by ensuring that you have things such as torches, batteries and a first aid kit ready to hand in the home.
– If possible, park your car in the garage.
– Wrap up warm and wear sensible, sturdy shoes with good grip if you’re going to be outside at all.
– Follow the A, B, C of staying safe in winter and bad weather conditions.
– A = Avoid driving in treacherous conditions if possible.
– B = Be prepared if you are heading out in dangerous weather conditions.
– Ensure that your vehicle is well-maintained (MOT, regular servicing etc).
– Regularly check tyres, the levels of your engine oil, coolant and screen washer.
– Make sure that you have anti-freeze in your radiator and windscreen washer bottle.
– Have an ice-scraper and de-icer handy at all times.
– Ensure that you have a winter driving kit stored in your car including a blanket, warm clothes, a torch, first aid kit, a spade, warning triangle, water and food stored in your car in case of an emergency.
– Always have a well-charged phone in case of emergencies.
– Check the weather forecast and plan your journey carefully. For example, when the weather is bad, main roads are more likely to be cleared and gritted. Allow yourself plenty of time to get from place to place as there may be hold ups on the road.
– C = Careful, Cautious driving.
– If visibility is poor, slow right down.
– Maintain a safe gap between you and the vehicle in front.
– Be extra vigilant for people and hazards and remain in control of your vehicle.
We’re certainly hoping the weather lifts soon and that spring doesn’t take too long to show its face. But, for now, we hope that you find this quick checklist useful and ensure that you and your loved ones remain safe in these extreme weather conditions.
Ajuda offers online training alongside our more traditional in-house training. There are many different types of learners. Whilst visual learners learn by visual experience, such as our online learning portal, another type of learner may prefer audio, learning by listening to instructions. Or, you could be a kinaesthetic learner, who learns by doing, feeling and touching. Ajuda understands the requirement to facilitate training to meet the needs of all different learning styles. With a mixture of classroom based and online learning, Ajuda aims to support all types of learning.
If you feel that online training is more suited to your learning requirements, this blog highlights the benefits of undertaking our online training courses.
– The real beauty of online training is that you can complete courses in your own time. This means you can work at your own pace, not necessarily completing the course in one sitting. You can also replay videos as many times as you need.
– If you are on a budget, online training is a great portal to use to educate yourself.
– As an employer, if you need to train your staff, online training requires your staff to take less time away from the office.
– Our courses are interactive and engaging with video examples of real world scenarios.
– Provided that you have an internet connection, our courses are accessible wherever you are and, at whatever time.
– The teacher on our videos is clear, concise and easy to understand.
– Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, you can learn vital lessons from the comfort of your own sofa. What’s not to love?!
Cons:
– There will be no tutor present for you to ask questions – however, if you are really stuck, you can contact Ajuda on info@ajuda.org.uk.
– There is no practical side to the lessons however, they do incorporate a lot of visual cues to aid you in your learning.
For further information on any of our courses please contact us on 029 20576883. Alternatively, you can email us on info@ajuda.org.uk. You can sign up for a free trial for our virtual training by visiting our online portal under the ‘Online Training’ section of our website. You can also book yourself onto an in-house course via the ‘Training’ section of the site.
After a stroke, every minute that passes is crucial. The most common type of stroke, ischemic stroke (accounting for approximately 90% of all strokes) occurs when a clot blocks an artery to the brain. According to Harvard Health, two million brain cells die every minute until blood flow is restored by an infusion of tPa in hospital.*
Being able to identify a stroke and ensure early treatment for the patient therefore greatly increases their chance of survival and a good recovery. You can learn how to do this by following these simple steps:
1.) Remember the acronym FAST.
This will help you to recognise the most common signs of a stroke:
Face – has their face dropped on one side? Ask them to smile – is their smile crooked?
Arms – ask them to lift both of their arms out. Does one arm drift downwards? Are they unable to lift one arm at all?
Speech – is their speech slurred? Are they unable to speak at all?
Time – if the answer is ‘yes’ to the above questions, then it’s time for you to dial 999 and ask for an ambulance.
The FAST test applies to most strokes; however, there are other possible signs and symptoms, such as: dizziness, blurred vision, severe headaches, paralysis of one side of the body, loss of balance, difficulty understanding speech, and loss of consciousness. A full list of potential stroke symptoms can be found here: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Stroke/Pages/Symptoms.aspx.
Don’t drive the patient to the hospital yourself – it is six times more likely a stroke patient will receive early tPa treatment if they are taken in an ambulance.* The paramedics’ role is vital in taking care of the stroke patient, and informing the hospital so they can make the necessary preparations.
While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, there are other steps you can take, which the emergency operator will guide you through – so it’s important to stay on the line.
2.) Check their levels of consciousness.
– If the stroke patient is conscious, lay them down on their side with their head slightly raised and supported.
– If they are unconscious, check their pulse and breathing and lay them on their side. If they are not breathing or do not have a pulse, start performing CPR immediately. The operator will instruct you on how to do this if you are unsure.
– If they are conscious, help them to lay them on their side, with their head slightly elevated and supported. Putting them in this position will help blood flow to the brain, and will also prevent a fall if their balance has been affected.
3.) Loosen any tight clothing to ensure that their breathing is unrestricted.
4.) Make sure that the front door is unlocked so that the paramedics have easy access to the patient.
5.) Observe
Note the time that they began showing symptoms of the stroke, or when they were last seen ‘normal’. This information is important as it will help doctors determine the best treatment for the individual. Clearly describe the situation to the paramedics, and inform them of any health problems the person has, and any medication they are taking.
DON’T give them food or drink, as their ability to swallow may have been affected.
While you are carrying out these steps, try to remain calm and comfort the person; tell them that help is on its way. Although it is a frightening situation, remember that by staying calm and taking quick action, you will make a huge difference to the person’s chances of recovery.
Following the tragic news of the death of a five-year-old boy who choked on food at school in Hull two weeks ago, Ajuda would like to raise awareness about what to do in an emergency when a baby or a child is choking. Knowing what to do in these situations is an important life skill for anyone who spends time around children in a work or social setting. Here is a step by step guide on what to do when a child is choking.
Conscious Baby
1) Sit or kneel and lay the baby over your lap. Lay the baby face down on your forearm and hold your arm on your thigh to hold the baby steady. Support the chin with one hand and ensure that the head and neck are lower than the torso.
2) Using the heel of your free hand, deliver five blows between the shoulder blades – check the mouth each time.
3) If the object is not coughed up, turn the baby onto its back. Rest them on your forearm and use your thigh to support the body and your hand to steady the head and neck. Ensure that both the head and neck are lower than the torso.
4) Use two fingers to deliver five chest thrusts to the centre of the chest, directly on the breastbone and in between the nipples. Stop if the baby starts to cough so that they can cough up the object.
5) If they still can’t breathe, continue to alternate between five back blows and five chest thrusts until the airway is unblocked.
Unconscious Baby
1) Lay the baby on its back. To open the airway, tilt the head back and lift the chin.
2) Check to see if the baby is breathing normally by taking the cheek down to the mouth – listen, feel for breath on your cheek and look for the chest to rise and fall.
3) If baby is not breathing put your mouth over the nose and mouth to create a seal and give five initial rescue breaths (blow in just enough air to make the chest visibly rise). Take care not to over-inflate the lungs.
4) Combine rescue breaths with chest compressions: Use 2 fingers to depress the chest (on the sternum in the centre of the chest) at least a third of its depth (4cm).
5) Give 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100 – 120 per minute.
6) Open the airway again by tilting the head and lifting the chin, then give 2 more rescue breaths.
7) Continue this cycle until the baby regains consciousness If the baby doesn’t regain consciousness, continue with rescue breathing and chest compressions until professional help arrives. Ensure that you are checking for signs of normal breathing, coughing and movement every minute.
Conscious Child
1) Encourage the child to cough.
2) Back blows – stand to the side and lean the child forward whilst supporting them with one hand across the chest. Using the heel of the other hand deliver 5 back blows in between the shoulder blades progressively getting harder with each one and ensuring that you also check the mouth after each blow.
3) If the back blows are ineffective, the next stage is abdominal thrusts.
4) Stand or kneel behind child and wrap your arms around the waist.
5) Make a fist with one hand and place the thumb side on the child’s abdomen (below the ribs). Your fist should be positioned just above the navel and below the child’s breastbone.
6) Gently squeeze in and up sharply 5 times unless the object comes out.
7) Repeat these 2 stages until the object is expelled.
If you’ve had to perform abdominal thrusts on a child, it is important to seek medical attention even if they seem okay and the object has been expelled.
Unconscious Child
1) Lay child on their back. Open the airway by tilting the head back, lifting the chin and moving the tongue off the back of the throat.
2) Check for breathing. Look for the chest to rise and fall, listen with your ear next to the mouth and feel for breath on your cheek.
3) If you establish that the child is breathing, put them into the recovery position.
4) If the child is not breathing, commence with CPR. With the head still tilted back, seal your mouth over the child’s mouth (but not the nose) and pinch their nose. Blow steadily into the mouth until the chest rises. Remove your mouth and allow the chest to fall. Repeat four more times.
5) Combine rescue breaths with chest compressions – lean over the child, with your arm straight, place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest over the lower half of the breastbone. Press the chest down by at least one-third of its depth. Repeat this 30 times at a rate of about twice a second.
6) Open the airway again by tilting the head and lifting the chin, then give two more rescue breaths.
7) Continue with chest compressions and rescue breaths at a ratio of 30:2 until the child regains consciousness or professional help arrives. Ensure to check for signs of normal breathing, coughing and movement each minute.
When to step in:
It is important to call for emergency help and start these rescue steps if your child shows any of these signs:
– Inability to talk, swallow, cry or make any sort of noise
– Blue lips or skin
– Inability to breathe
– Loss of consciousness
When not to step in:
Believe it or not, however much we want to rush to a child’s aid, there are times when applying these rescue steps can cause more harm than good. If your child can do any of the following, this means that the airway is only partially blocked and trying to unblock it could make it worse:
– Coughing
– Talking
– Crying
– Breathing
Ajuda have released a video series called ‘How To Save Your Children’ on our YouTube channel with physical demonstrations of these practices. Please watch our videos for further and more in depth information.
On the 2nd February 2017 it is National Time to Talk Day. Time to Talk Day is a day designed to encourage the nation to break the silence around mental health problems and the stigma that is consequently attached to it.
Ajuda are avid supporters of mental health campaigns such as Time to Talk – we believe strongly that not only is it important to look after our own mental health, it is important to look out for people around us such as colleagues, family, friends and even strangers.
Why?
One in four people are affected by mental health problems. This means that right now, one of your friends, colleagues or loved ones is currently affected. Despite this, people are still afraid to talk about mental health which unfortunately leads to many people suffering alone. Time to Talk day aims to get people talking about mental health, even just for one day, and through this, stop the stigma, aid recovery, improve relationships and break down stereotypes regarding something that truly affects us all. By normalising the way we talk about mental illness, we can stop people from feeling isolated or judged and really make a difference to their quality of life.
How?
This year, on Time to Talk Day, we’ll be sure to have a positive conversation in the office about mental health and we urge for you to do the same. We will also be talking about mental health across all our social media platforms throughout the day and joining in the conversation online.
Training
If mental health is something that you are interested in learning more about, Ajuda offer Mental Health Awareness courses. For more information about this please call us on 029 2057 6883.
If you are concerned about your own or somebody else’s mental health please visit this page on Mind’s website for information about how to deal with this.
If you’d like to learn more about managing anxiety, click here.
Paediatric First Aid… It’s not just for professional carers!
Anyone who works with children on a professional basis – nursery staff, childminders, nannies, pre-school and after-school club staff – must have a paediatric first aid qualification. Ajuda’s Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid is designed for staff working in childcare settings; they meet legal requirements by gaining an accredited certificate, and their workplaces will be able to reassure parents that their children are being cared for by trained and knowledgeable staff. The course gives delegates the ability to deliver first aid to infants and children in the event of unconsciousness, choking, bleeding, shock, burns, and a number of other injuries and conditions.
However, this course would be beneficial for anyone who is responsible for looking after infants and/or children and who would like to have the skills and knowledge to administer first aid treatment in a medical emergency. This means parents, expectant parents, grandparents, other relatives, and carers. For these individuals, there is also a less time-consuming training option that would still give you essential first aid skills: our Parent & Baby First Aid course. This is run over 3 hours and, like the Level 3 Award, combines both theory and practical sessions.
Attending paediatric first aid training is simple, and means that parents and professionals alike are far better prepared for the basic medical emergencies that commonly affect children. Please visit our website https://www.ajuda.org.uk/training/first-aid/ or call us on 029 2057 6883 for more information.
Be sure to subscribe to Ajuda’s Youtube channel and check out our How to Save Your Children video series, where you can learn vital first aid skills for babies and children! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1AMwn1l-kRuWJK_43mIh7A
Many people are aware of the tragic numbers of Mesothelioma deaths due to past asbestos exposure or that working at a height or in confined spaces is highly dangerous and needs to be risk assessed. However, Health and Safety courses cover plenty of topics alongside these important subjects. These range from Fire Safety, Trips and Falls, Manual Handling, Work-Related Stress and many more issues which affect all types of workplaces.
Did you know that 30.4 million working days were lost in 2015/16 due to work-related illness and non-fatal workplace injuries in 2015/16?*
Or that 0.5 million workers were suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders?
Not forgetting the 0.5 million workers who were suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety last year?
The repercussions of this can have a drastic impact on your business. 25.9 million working days were lost due to work-related illnesses.
Ajuda runs the Level 2 Award in Health and Safety, which is an accredited qualification designed to give staff greater awareness of health and safety issues within the workplace. This course will be delivered by one of our highly knowledgeable trainers, and can be tailored to the needs of businesses or individuals for greater relevance.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have introduced changes to the syllabus for first aid training courses. From 31st December 2016, the Level 2 Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) and Level 3 First Aid at Work (FAW) courses must train delegates in the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AED). We see this as a very beneficial change, as the importance of defibrillation for cardiac arrest victims cannot be overstated. Research has shown that every minute that passes without defibrillation, the chance of survival decreases by 7 to 10 percent.
At Ajuda, a demonstration showing candidates how to use an AED has long been given as part of our first aid courses. Combined with the increasing availability of AEDs in public spaces and workplaces, this training will hopefully result in more cardiac arrest victims receiving immediate and effective first aid treatment.
Click here https://www.ajuda.org.uk/training/first-aid/ to book onto one of our first aid courses to learn invaluable life-saving skills from one of our fantastic professional trainers, or call us on 029 2057 6883. Our one-day EFAW course is next running on the 23rd January; the three-day FAW course on 23rd-25th January. For more course dates, click here to see our full 2017 calendar: https://www.ajuda.org.uk/course-calendar-2017/
Happy Halloween! Today, your dining tables may be decked with all manner of scary, edible delights.
But it’s vital to ensure that your pumpkin pies aren’t cooked in terrifyingly unclean conditions, and that your customers aren’t bobbing for contaminated apples. Because poor food hygiene will haunt both the customer and the business.
Since 2013, food premises in Wales must publicly display their food hygiene inspection scores in-store, and these are also easily accessible online. So a score of less than 3 out of 5 on the Food Standards Agency’s hygiene rating scale may mean that you’re scaring potential customers away.
Good food hygiene practice is therefore critical for a number of major reasons: to meet legal requirements, to protect the health of customers, and to make sure that your business is not a ghost of what it could be with a better rating.
All personnel dealing with food are obligated to receive training in food hygiene. Ajuda run the accredited Level 2 Award in Food Hygiene course, which is next being held on the 15th November at their training academy in Cardiff Bay. This course will give you all the essential knowledge you need to guarantee food safety in the workplace, so that you avoid making your consumer’s eating experience – and your business’s reputation – a nightmare.
One of the barriers for female entrepreneurs is the lack of women role models.
As a woman entrepreneur myself I understand how important it is to surround yourself with inspiring role models and feel that when you find and surround yourself with these positive and inspiring influences that whole new world’s and approaches open up to you.
Everything becomes more possible. If they can do it maybe you can too!
So I’ve been reaching out to successful women entrepreneurs to ask if they would share their stories
Dawn Evans founder of training providers Ajuda, and Female Entrepreneur of the Year gladly obliged as inspiring other women was also something that she is passionate about
I was privileged to meet with Dawn and interview her. It was an amazing conversation and there were so many questions I wanted to ask about her journey of entrepreneurship and her secrets of success. Dawn has received multiple awards and is a shining example to women entrepreneurs everywhere
Can you tell us about yourself and your business?
My name is Dawn, I am 45 years old, married my husband Darren in 1998, mother to Bethan, 16 and Thomas 14.
What prompted you to first set out into entrepreneurship?
Lifestyle was my main reason, My outlook on my career changed after I became a mum. Having the ability to create a life of flexibility and freedom, whilst enjoying a work / life balance.
How many years have you been in business?
Next month I will be celebrating 10 years in business.
When did you consider yourself to be successful and how do you define success?
Success is measured in many different forms; to me I guess success came when I could spend unlimited amounts of time with my family whilst still earning passive income.
You have received a number of awards, can you tell us what was your first and most recent?
My first award was back in 2012 when I won the Welsh Business award for Community Contribution, my most recent award was last month when I was announced as Female Entrepreneur of the Year at the South Wales Business awards.
Can you name a woman who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? Maybe someone who has been a mentor or role model to you along the way? Someone who inspired you?
I have met a few inspirational women during my journey into entrepreneurship. Nicola S Morgan is one lady who has had a definite impact in my journey, I met Nicola at a Networking event about 3 years ago, she is now my business partner for our new business venture The National Education Show.
Why and how did this person impact your life?
Nicola and I have recently set up a new company together which I am really excited about. She is a go getter, and always has a very positive outlook on life. Nicola has now written 10 books and has agreed to mentor me on publishing my first business book in the very near future.
What has been your experience of being a woman leader in business?
I seem to be outnumbered by men in similar roles to me, the business world seems to be a male dominated environment, however I know exactly what I want, and I just go and get it. Male or female, we are all people at the end of the day.
Why is it important to you personally that you inspire other women?
I think if women who are less confident, can see me succeed, then hopefully they will believe it is possible to follow their dreams too. Wales and the economy could benefit greatly by having a stronger female presence within the SME a corporate communities.
Which is most important to your organization—mission, core values or vision?
I would say all 3 of the above are equally important, I am on a mission to upskill and educate the masses, I feel you need a very clear vision in business, if you can’t see where you’re going, how are you expected to arrive at your destination? Finally, core values are important, the core of Ajuda is honestly, quality and integrity, customers will stay loyal, if you can deliver what you say you can, treat them as you would like to be treated and strive to exceed expectations.
What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?
Honesty
What advice would you give someone in business and stepping into a leadership position for the first time?
Stay true to what you believe, be honest, and never over promise what you can’t not deliver.
What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?
Continually educating myself
Do you have success habits, if so can you tell us what they are?
Non-judgmental, I believe that everyone deserves a chance in life, I try to help others where I can, remain focused and professional at all times
What is your favourite quote?
I have 2 favorite quotes;
Life is about the journey, not the destination.
If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid
What keeps you motivated?
Watching others that I have helped succeed.
‘If I were to ask your friends, family or employees ‘Give me three words that best describe you,’ what would I hear?
Good question, I put this one to my friends and family, you can see the response I got back set out below:
What advice would you have for other women starting or running their own businesses?
You need good Structure, good support and good finance.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be successful in business but who is coming up against some challenges too?
Take on the challenge, deal with it, move on.
Tell us about any new ventures or projects within your business you would like us to know about?
The National Education Show
What do you need to ask for? What do you want? Who are you looking for to take your business forwards? How can we help?
The National Education Show is an exciting new event coming to Cardiff October 2017.
There will be 140 stands full of services and products that will benefit the Education Establishments of Wales, there will also be 20 seminars on the day, all the topics again will be of benefit to teaching staff within the education Sector. I am really excited about this new venture. You could help by spreading the word to anyone you know that works within the education sector
Ajuda Limited is a multi award winning company based in Cardiff. We provide companies with affordable Health and Safety Courses such as First Aid Training, Manual Handling, Health & Safety, Food Hygiene Training, Fire Safety and many more courses throughout Wales and the rest of the UK.
As part of The Womenspire Leaders Network and my commitment to increase the number of women role models. I am helping women role models to be more visible. I am reaching out to successful women, interviewing them and sharing these interviews to inspire millions of other women too
If you would like to recommend an inspiring woman entrepreneur who is passionate about helping other women to be interviewed as part of Womenspire Leaders
Today, Dawn Evans, company director of Ajuda, delivered free first aid training to students at St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School in Barry, South Wales, so that more young people have the knowledge and skills to act in situations of medical emergency.
Dawn talked about the scenarios in which first aid may be required, and the appropriate first aid to administer if a person is choking or unconscious. The students, after listening to Dawn and watching both her demonstrations and example videos, were familiarised with the step-by-step procedures of CPR and the recovery position. They were then able to put their new knowledge into practice – everyone delivered CPR on manikins, and in pairs or groups of three, had multiple turns at putting someone into the recovery position, under Dawn’s supervision. By the end of the session, the students felt confident in basic first aid procedures, and far better equipped to deal with such a situation in everyday life.
Many thanks to the students and teachers at St Richard Gwyn Catholic School – it was a pleasure delivering the course today and we’re glad that the students have confidence in their new first aid abilities.
If your school would like to receive free first aid training, please contact us on 029 2057 6883. For more information regarding first aid or any of the training courses we offer, please visit https://www.ajuda.org.uk/training/.
You can also connect with us on Twitter at @Ajuda_Training, or Facebook at @Ajudatraining.
