Category: News

Keep Warm this Winter

Posted on by Dawn Evans
Cold weather can affect your health. Find out how to keep yourself well and your home warm during winter.

Why is cold weather a problem?

When the temperature drops to below 8C, some people are at increased risk of:

  • heart attack
  • stroke
  • flu
  • pneumonia
  • falls and injuries
  • hypothermia

Cold weather can also affect people with mental health conditions, such as depression and dementia.

Who’s most at risk?

Very cold weather can affect anyone, but you are most vulnerable if:

  • you’re 65 or older
  • you’re on a low income (so can’t afford heating)
  • you have a long-term health condition, such as heart, lung or kidney disease
  • you’re disabled
  • you’re pregnant
  • you have young children (newborn to school age)
  • you have a mental health condition

Be prepared

The Met Office provides weather forecasts on radio and TV, so listen in to these bulletins regularly to keep up-to-date with the weather.

Severe weather warnings are also issued on the Met Office website, through the Met Office Twitter feed, or you can call the Weather Desk on 0370 900 0100 or 01392 885 680.

The Met office also has advice on getting ready for winter.

This includes suggestions for practical things you can do to prepare for winter weather, including cold, ice and snow, high winds and flooding.

How to keep your home warm

Follow these tips to keep you and your family warm and well at home:

  • if you’re not very mobile, are 65 or over, or have a health condition, such as heart or lung disease, heat your home to at least 18C (65F)
  • keep your bedroom at 18C all night if you can – and keep the bedroom window closed
  • during the day you may prefer your living room to be slightly warmer than 18C
  • to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), babies should sleep in rooms heated to between 16C and 20C
  • if you’re under 65, healthy and active, you can safely have your home cooler than 18C, if you’re comfortable
  • draw curtains at dusk and keep doors closed to block out draughts
  • get your heating system checked regularly by a qualified professional

Protect your health in the cold

If you start to feel unwell, even if it’s a cough or cold, don’t wait until it gets more serious. Seek advice from your pharmacist.

Follow these tips on keeping well in the cold:

  • find out if you can get the flu jab for free on the NHS
  • wear several layers of clothes rather than 1 chunky layer – clothes made from cotton, wool or fleecy fibres help to maintain body heat
  • use a hot water bottle or electric blanket to keep warm in bed – but don’t use both at the same time
  • have at least 1 hot meal a day – eating regularly helps keep you warm; and make sure you have hot drinks regularly
  • try not to sit still for more than an hour or so indoors – get up and stretch your legs
  • stay active – even moderate exercise can help keep you warm
  • wrap a scarf loosely around your mouth when outdoors – add a hat and wear shoes with a good grip, too
  • if you have a heart or respiratory problem, stay indoors during very cold weather

Look in on vulnerable neighbours and relatives

Check up on older neighbours and relatives, and those with heart or respiratory (breathing) problems, to make sure they:

  • are safe and well
  • are warm enough, especially at night
  • have stocks of food and medicines so they don’t need to go out during very cold weather

If you’re worried about a relative or elderly neighbour, contact your local council or call the Age UK helpline on 0800 678 1174 (8am to 7pm every day).

If you’re concerned that the person may be suffering from hypothermia, contact NHS 111.

Ajuda speaking at the future of work conference 2023

Posted on by kris ajuda

Managing director of Ajuda Dawn Evans spoke at the Future of Work conference held at Techniquest in Cardiff. This conference hosts a range of companies that help assist with plans and strategies that help create a strong and resilient workforce.

Dawn spoke about the importance of mental health in the workplace, and why companies should invest in having mental health first aiders. Here is Dawn giving her talk at the conference.

More about our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Course

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a training course that teaches individuals how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use issues. The course is designed to give people the skills and confidence to provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.

Participants in the course learn about common mental health conditions, how to offer initial help, and how to guide a person towards appropriate professional help. The course typically involves interactive activities, discussions, and practical skills-building exercises. The length of the course can vary, but most programs take between 12 and 16 hours to complete.

More about Ajuda Training Services

Ajuda is a multi-award-winning company and has been established for more than ten years. We provide accredited training courses from our classes based in Cardiff, providing training to areas all over Wales, the UK and in Europe.

Here at Ajuda, we are friendly teachers offering the highest customer service standards to all our clients. We can either teach our training courses from our training academy based in Cardiff Bay, or we can come to your location. Whatever the need we can deliver.

We can help equip your organisation with mental health first aiders

Investing in mental health first aiders can help the workforce in your company. Identifying someone who needs help and support with their mental health can prevent any long-term sickness leave. Our mental health first aid course helps people identify when someone needs help, and points them in the right direction connecting them to the right support.

Contact us

We regularly run mental heath first aid courses. We train people up to be mental health first aiders and certify people to help colleagues with their mental health in the workplace. Use the contact details below to get in touch and we’ll let you know when we are running our next course dates.

Tel: 029 2057 6883
Email:admin@ajuda.org.uk

Children’s Mental Health Week 2023

Posted on by kris ajuda

This year’s Children’s Mental Health Week is taking place on 6-12 February 2023.  This year's theme is Let’s Connect and  is about making meaningful connections. People thrive in communities, and this connection is vital for our wellbeing. Having healthy connections – to family, friends and others – can support our mental health and sense of wellbeing. 

Place2Be launched Children’s Mental Health Week in 2015 to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health. We hope to encourage more people than ever to get involved and spread the word.

Please add the dates to your calendar and sign up for email alerts for the latest Children’s Mental Health Week news.

Last year Children’s Mental Health Week focused on Growing Together.  Place2Be   encouraged children (and adults) to consider how they have grown, and how they can help others to grow…

It doesn’t have to be difficult. Our bodies and minds are connected, so simple things that we do to improve our physical wellbeing can help our mental wellbeing too.

We have our Youth Mental Health Webinar on 9th February and you can register for your FREE tickets here

Here at Ajuda Training Services we run regular Youth Mental Health First Aid training courses both Virtually and face to face. 

Find a date and book yourself onto a course today 

Click Here 

Become a first aider this February

Posted on by Dawn Evans

The workplace can seem like a safe place, but, there are risks you wouldn’t think of until they happen. An accident can occur at any time and if it did, who in the workplace is trained to help? It is a legal requirement as a company to ensure your employees receive immediate attention. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider First Aid Training for employees. 

1. It can save lives

2. Reduce the number of workplace accidents

Image

3. Positive work environment

4. Your company will be safer place to work

Image

5. First aid kits are used properly

6. It can reduce recovery time

Image

7. It can keep employees safe outside of the workplace

8. It’s a great team-building exercise

9. It gives your employees confidence and clarity during an emergency
First aid training doesn’t just teach your staff how to treat patients in need of first aid, it also gives them confidence and effectively manage an emergency without fear, confusion or overwhelm.

10. The cost of a First Aid at Work Training course is nothing compared to that of potentially saving a live.
Providing first aid and CPR training doesn’t cost much, but it will go a long way to ensuring workplace health and safety.

If this has given you something to think about we have many Training Courses available at Ajuda Training Academy, take a look at our course calendar, give us a call on 02920 576883, or email admin@ajuda.org.uk

First Aid at Work – 3 Day course

27th, 28th February & 1st March

27th – 28th March

24th – 26th April

£230 + vat per person

https://www.ajuda.org.uk/shop/courses/first-aid/level-3-award-in-emergency-first-aid-at-work-rqf/

AEDs

Book here

Ajuda is a proud sponsor of The Mental Health & Wellbeing Show 2023

Posted on by kris ajuda

The Mental Health & Wellbeing Show

A professional  all-day show on the 11th May 2023.  Aiming to promote positive mental health through open conversation, promoting awareness and sharing real-life experiences.

The show will include a selection of seminars focused on topics such as coping with mental illness, ways to promote positive mental health, and how to support people around you who are suffering with ill mental health. Alongside this is an exhibition with over 60 charities, organisations and companies promoting their helpful resources, services and initiatives designed to support positive mental health and wellbeing.

The event is suitable for:

Adult Services, Schools, GPs, NHS Staff, CAMHS, Housing Associations, Charities, Youth Clubs, Staff in Residential Housing for Children and Mental Health, Foster Carers, Rehabilitation Centres, Colleges, Police Services, Sports Clubs, Spiritual and Holistic Therapists and many more!

Seminar and workshop topics will include;

Experiencing and living with mental health conditions including; Depression, Anxiety Disorders, PTSD, OCD, Post Natal Depression, Psychosis, Suicidal Thoughts. Mental Health recovery and journey, Mental Health in the workplace, school, college, university. Overcoming Eating Disorders, Addiction, Self Harm. The advantages of mindfulness, holistic therapies, meditation, sports and activities, arts and creative therapies. Living with Autism. The connection of diet & nutrition and mental health, The LGBTIQ+ community, The Role of the Mental Health First Aider in the Workplace, The Role of the Mental Health Lead in Schools. Psychological treatments. Experiencing loss, Peer support, Student life, Homelessness, Disability, Reducing stress and many more

This event is proudly sponsored and supported by Ajuda

REGISTER FOR FREE TICKETS HERE

Managing Occupational Health

Posted on by kris ajuda

Course Description

This course explains the key elements, procedures and activities involved in successful Occupational Health and Safety Management in the workplace. The course shows how professional Occupational Health and Safety Management benefits individuals and organisations. It will investigate workplace health models, including the basic criteria of the World Health Organisation model. You’ll discover the importance of a Health Needs Assessment and how it leads to the development of a Heath Management Strategy. On a more practical level, the course will look at hazards, risks, controls and ‘Safe Systems of Work’ and the role played by health risk assessments. Turning to workplace well-being, we’ll explain how to promote healthy lifestyles and positive mental health. You’ll learn how to manage absences from work, both authorised and unauthorised, how to create an official Attendance Policy, manage the return-to-work process and deal effectively with absenteeism. Finally, the course discusses the steps needed to develop and build a strong health and well-being culture, including leadership, communication, work-life balance and embracing change.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to: Understand what Occupational Health and Safety is along with the benefits of promoting a healthy organisation. Create Health Management Strategies and collaborate with professionals for effective implementation. Define Employee well-being, risk factors and understand the importance of promoting a positive culture around occupational health. Create Risk assessments and understand when and where they are needed and the process to create effective assessments.

Target Audience

This course is aimed at supervisors and managers who are responsible for the health and wellbeing of their employees.

Advantages

Creating a culture of health, safety and wellbeing in the workplace increases staff morale and ensures a high level of retention. Online training is flexible, efficient and cost effective meaning the candidate can progress through the modules at their own pace and in their own time, so they can fit the training in around their work and personal life.

Further Progression

Other business skills and health and safety courses would be great follow ups to this one, especially Leadership Skills, Developing Teamwork and Health and Safety in the Workplace.

Duration : 90 Minutes

Cost :  £35

Children and Young People’s Mental Health

Posted on by kris ajuda

Course Description

This course explains the key elements, procedures and activities involved in successful Occupational Health and Safety Management in the workplace. The course shows how professional Occupational Health and Safety Management benefits individuals and organisations. It will investigate workplace health models, including the basic criteria of the World Health Organisation model. You’ll discover the importance of a Health Needs Assessment and how it leads to the development of a Heath Management Strategy. On a more practical level, the course will look at hazards, risks, controls and ‘Safe Systems of Work’ and the role played by health risk assessments. Turning to workplace well-being, we’ll explain how to promote healthy lifestyles and positive mental health. You’ll learn how to manage absences from work, both authorised and unauthorised, how to create an official Attendance Policy, manage the return-to-work process and deal effectively with absenteeism. Finally, the course discusses the steps needed to develop and build a strong health and well-being culture, including leadership, communication, work-life balance and embracing change.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to: Understand what Occupational Health and Safety is along with the benefits of promoting a healthy organisation. Create Health Management Strategies and collaborate with professionals for effective implementation. Define Employee well-being, risk factors and understand the importance of promoting a positive culture around occupational health. Create Risk assessments and understand when and where they are needed and the process to create effective assessments.

Target Audience

This course is aimed at supervisors and managers who are responsible for the health and wellbeing of their employees.

Advantages 

Creating a culture of health, safety and wellbeing in the workplace increases staff morale and ensures a high level of retention. Online training is flexible, efficient and cost effective meaning the candidate can progress through the modules at their own pace and in their own time, so they can fit the training in around their work and personal life.

Further Progression

Other business skills and health and safety courses would be great follow ups to this one, especially Leadership Skills, Developing Teamwork and Health and Safety in the Workplace.

Duration: 90 Minutes

Health & safety behind the curtains of Women’s World Cup

Posted on by kris ajuda

England Women’s Football Team’s victory gave us a reason to celebrate. This is the first time the England women’s team have won an international competition!

The whole world admires players’ exceptional skill throughout the tournament. In addition to their extraordinary performance, we should also shine some light on those who work in the shadows.

Given that football is one of the most popular sports around the world, the emphasis must be put on the health and safety aspects of it. Injuries are by far the greatest problem encountered in football in terms of their impact on players. This is especially relevant for women’s game, given the potentially greater occurrence of serious, long-term injuries such as knee ligament injuries, compared to male players.

An integrated and cohesive medical and physical performance team is essential for preparing players to maximise their availability for the coaches by optimising physical performance, whilst minimising injury risk. Knowledge of first aid procedures is extremely important for anyone involved in a football game, from members of the coaching staff and judges to the players.

Upgrade your emergency first aid training and be prepared to help people.

Medical emergencies can strike at any time whether you are on or off the football pitch. From common injuries to life-threatening situations such as sudden cardiac arrest, understanding basic first aid can help save lives.

Some treatments and injuries in sports first aid could include:
• Use of automated external defibrillators
• Head injuries and concussion
• Internal and external bleeding
• CPR
• Muscle and joint injuries
• Broken bones
• Asthma attacks and seizures
• Chest pains and heart attacks
• And many more.

Ajuda Training is pleased to offer a full first aid courses for coaches, PE teachers and anyone who is in need or wants to get those skills. We offer a whole range of certified first aid courses for you to choose from.

Make sure to check them out to gain the confidence and knowledge to help save lives.

#futbol #ladiesfootball #womeninsports #soccergirls #fawsl #soccergirl #women
#lionesses
https://www.ajuda.org.uk/product-category/courses/first-aid/

QNUK Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF)

QNUK Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work (RQF)

Dementia Action/Awareness Week May 16th – 22nd

Posted on by kris ajuda

Dementia Action Week is a national event that sees the UK public taking action to improve the lives of people affected by dementia. In 2022, the Week will take place on 16 – 22 May.

Stand up for your loved ones this Dementia Action Week

Coronavirus has exposed the fact that families facing dementia have been failed by a social care system that is inadequate, hard to access, costly and unfair. People with dementia have been worst hit by the pandemic, accounting for a quarter of all coronavirus deaths in the UK.

The time has come for governments to set right decades of unfairness and underinvestment and to build a social care system we can all be proud of.

This Dementia Action Week, Alzheimer’s Society needs your help to call on the Government to rebuild the social care system in 2022. Will you get involved and show you care?

34.5 million of us know someone living with dementia in the UK. Together we can bring about change.

One in three of us born in the UK today will go on to develop dementia in our lifetime, and there will be one million people living with dementia by 2025 making dementia care one of the greatest challenges facing our society. With few existing treatments, it’s social care not the NHS that people affected by dementia rely on. People with dementia represent the majority of social care users, so it is vital that the care system is made fit for purpose.

A new system we can be proud of

We need system that means every person living with dementia, and every carer, can get the support they need to stay happy, healthy and independent for as long as possible. This means quality care that is right for them, free and easy to get, no matter where you live – like the NHS.

The time has come to set right decades of unfairness and underinvestment and for Governments to create a legacy to be admired.

Alzheimer’s Society won’t stop until everyone can access the dementia care they so critically need, now and in the future.

Here at Ajuda we have a great offer on our Dementia Awareness Online Training??

Try this by Clicking here

Use SELFEDUCATE3 code at checkout and save 35%

10 Benefits of First Aid Training in the Workplace

Posted on by Dawn Evans

The office can seem like a safe place to work, but, there are risks you wouldn’t think of until they happen. An accident can occur at any time and if it did, who in the workplace is trained to help? It is a legal requirement as a company to ensure your employees receive immediate attention. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider First Aid Training for employees.

1. It can save lives

This may seem like the most obvious reason, but it is proved that first aid saves lives. If there is an accident in the office is anyone trained to come to the rescue? First aid training gives your staff the confidence and ability to react immediately to an incident, injury or illness. CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) has been reported that many lives have been saved due to fast reaction CPR. This would have been given during critical and life-threatening accidents, injuries or health complications in the workplace.

2. Reduce the number of workplace accidents

First aid training helps employees learn to be more conscious of safety in the workplace, leading to a reduced number of accidents and injuries. Minimizing risk to workers and decreasing workplace incidents is a benefit to everyone, but for employers it has implications within all aspects of business operations. All employees become more safety aware, helping to bring down the number of accidents.

3. Positive work environment

By making first aid training available to employees, employers can show their workforce that they care about providing a safe work environment. First aid training provided in the workplace can even be used as an excellent team-building exercise and morale booster. Employee morale is an integral part of any company. High morale leads to positive attitudes and positive attitudes lead to positive results. The happiness and wellbeing of your employees will help you build a strong relationship, ultimately resulting in a better working environment. First aid training will help ensure employee health and safety in addition to enhanced wellbeing and morale.

4. Your company will be safer place to work

Many large companies give first aid as part of employee training; this is a very wise option because it guarantees they can all look out for one another. If an accident happens at work; employees may be able to prevent further injury to the victim of the accident. First aid courses in the work place promote safer practice amongst employees.

5. First aid kits are used properly

Not only will your employees know exactly what should be in the first aid kit and be able to maintain it properly, they’ll be able to use them effectively in an emergency. They will know where to access it quickly – again saving time and reducing the impact of the illness or injury. First aid trainees know exactly what’s in their first aid kits, how to use the contents, and the various ways to react in an emergency. In a beneficial way, it makes each employee an unofficial health and safety risk manager.

6. It can reduce recovery time

Rapid reaction to illness or injury, before further aid such as an ambulance arrives can not only save lives, but in addition, will reduce recovery time of the patient. If that patient is a member of staff, that means they’ll be back to work quicker, with less impact on the business.

7. It can keep employees safe outside of the workplace

It’s not just in the workplace where good first aid training is paramount – employees will have those skills for life, especially if you maintain ongoing refresher courses. This means they can treat themselves, their family and friends and the public effectively in an emergency.

8. It’s a great team-building exercise

When your staff get the opportunity to learn a skill together, one that will help them look after one another, it brings them closer together. Many teams have reported more awareness of their co-workers wellbeing following first aid training.

9. It gives your employees confidence and clarity during an emergency

First aid training doesn’t just teach your staff how to treat patients in need of first aid, it also gives them confidence and effectively manage an emergency without fear, confusion or overwhelm.

10. The cost of a First Aid at Work Training course is nothing compared to that of potentially saving a live.

Providing first aid and CPR training doesn’t cost much, but it will go a long way to ensuring workplace health and safety.

If this has given you something to think about we have many Training Courses available at Ajuda Training Academy, take a look at our course calendar, give us a call on 02920 576883, or email admin@ajuda.org.uk

Or you can book a course online here

Follow us on Facebook or Twitter and see our tips and advice on all things #FirstAid

We all need to be more Cyber Security aware!!!

Posted on by kris ajuda

We all need to be more Cyber Security aware.

Here at Ajuda, we have launched a brand new online training course to give an insight around how we can all play our part in remaining cyber secure.

Our full suite of interactive video-based online courses can be white labelled and distributed by you.

Employees, managers and directors should all have a good understanding of the threat posed by cyber-attacks and the importance of guarding against data breaches.

This short online Cyber Security E-Learning course will explain why cyber attacks and data breaches happen and provide practical advice on how to set up effective defences.

First, the Cyber Security online course will identify potential ‘cyber threat actors’ who initiate cybercrime, along with looking at the main motivations behind cyber-attacks on individuals and organisations.

On a more practical level, you’ll learn how to recognise and deal effectively with phishing attempts. The online Cyber Security course will highlight the importance of keeping passwords secure and cover security for devices, such as smartphones, laptops, tablets or desktop computers.

You’ll learn how to report a suspected cyber attack, and what to do if you genuinely make a mistake.

Finally, the Cyber Security E-Learning course will underline the importance of cooperation and show how working closely together helps overcome a wide range of cybersecurity issue

Click here to book this course now