With colder weather on the way, it’s really important to remain fit and healthy at this time of year to help your body fight off the common colds and viruses that are circulating. Eating well, wrapping up warm and carefully planning your journeys are simple ways stay safe during winter. This blog highlights some of the first aid tips you may require over the winter months and potential hazards to look out for. It is essential to maintain body heat during winter to avoid hypothermia. Ideally, the temperature indoors should be at least 18 degrees. If you cannot afford to keep the heating on all winter (it can really add up!) then keep adding the layers, have accessible blankets around the house and hot water bottles which are particularly useful and a cost-effective way to keep extra warm indoors. If you are venturing outside, ensure to wrap up warm and add layers such as, hats, scarves and gloves to prevent you from getting too cold. Unfortunately, hypothermia is a huge danger at this time of year. The number of hypothermia deaths has doubled over the last five years. It is really important to learn the signs of hypothermia which include pale and cold skin, shallow breathing, a weak pulse and disorientation. If you suspect someone is suffering from hypothermia, then it is vital to encourage the to undertake the following: – Slowly restore warmth and get indoors if they are not already – Begin CPR if necessary – If they are conscious, give them a warm drink such as – Keep their body temperature up by wrapping them in blankets – Wear several light layers rather than one chunky layer – Regular hot drinks and meals – Be very careful around open fire – Close the curtains after dark to keep away drafts – Keep your hands clean to reduce germs spreading – Stay active – Keep windows closed at night As mentioned in the introduction, cold weather can have a detrimental impact on your health. There are many preventative measures that can be taken to ensure that you are fit and healthy throughout the winter months and avoiding sickness: – Enquire about getting the flu jab – Take multivitamins – Maintain a healthy diet – Have hot meals and drinks where possible – Invest in a hat, scarf and gloves and a good coat – Exercise and keeping active helps to maintain body heat amongst many other health benefits When the temperature drops to below 8 °C some people particularly vulnerable people such as young children, people with existing health conditions, people with a low income and elderly people become at risk of various problems: – Heart attack – Stroke – Pneumonia – Falls and injuries – Hypothermia During the winter, travelling can become particularly hazardous. Take extra care when walking outdoors as footpaths can become slippery. Invest in a sensible pair of shoes with good grip to help to prevent slips and trips. If you are driving, it is important to be aware that the roads can become slippery and dangerous. It is a good idea to have a winter first aid kit stocked in the car including blankets and water in case you break down. Other driving essentials during this time of year include an ice scraper, winter screen wash, de-icer and a foil blanket. As well as ensuring that you take all of these measures to stay healthy, please look out for vulnerable people and do what you can to help them to keep warm. Perhaps consider donating blankets, hot water bottles and tinned food to those in need. Drive calmly and safely to prevent being involved in an accident. If you are interested in learning more about learning basic first aid skills, please book yourself a place on one of our open first aid courses.
Cold Weather
Keep warm
Further tips for keeping warm and staying safe:
Keep healthy and fight the cold
Travel safely
We hope that this blog has given you some basic ideas about how to stay safe during winter.
Tag: Cardiff
Life with Autism and Mental Illness – Mair Elliott talks at Mental Health Conference
Mair is a young patient activist, speaking openly about life with mental illness and autism.
We are delighted to be including her in the programme of amazing keynote speakers at the Talking Mental Health Conference at Cardiff City Stadium on World Mental Health Day (Thursday 10th October)
Mair’s activism includes public speaking, trying to affect change in mental health and/or autism services by contributing to relevant organisations, panels, committees and executive boards.
“I hope to break down misconceptions, stereotypes and stigma relating to mental illness and autism, and to create a future where mental health services are fit for purpose.”
We’re so excited to hear what she has to say at the event.
Tickets are available to book, with early bird prices available until the end of August
Talking Mental Health National Conference Agenda
Talking Mental Health National Conference
Taking place on World Mental Health Day
Thursday 10th October
At Cardiff City Stadium
9:00am – 4:00pm
Featuring inspirational and motivational keynote speakers, who will be sharing their knowledge and experience of living with mental health illnesses.
Topics include; Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Bipolar, Schizophrenia and Suicide.
Speakers will be sharing their journey of recovery and raising awareness about these conditions to help end the stigma against mental health.
There will also be an exhibition area where mental health organisations and businesses will be providing resources, knowledge and advice.
Refreshments and lunch will be provided on the day and included in the ticket and exhibitor prices.
Agenda of the event
The conference begins at 9am where guests can help themselves to a hot or cold drink and delicious welsh cakes. The exhibition area will be open for guests to find out more from various metal health organisations and businesses.
Everyone (delegates and exhibitors) will be seated at 10:00am for the conference to begin. The host and founder of the event, Dawn Evans will open the conference and the first keynote speaker of the day, Thomas Bell – The Bipolar Businessman will be introduced to the stage to deliver his talk “Motivations & Discovery – The Path to Becoming More Human” This will then be followed by the second speaker, Rachel Kingsbury who will be sharing her story of Surviving Anxiety and Depression before the morning break.
During the morning break refreshments will be available and all guests are given an opportunity, to network with other guests and exhibitors in the exhibition area.
Everyone shall be seated again after the break and we will welcome three more guests to the stage. The first being June Jones who is the Campaign and Strategy Lead of Time to Change Wales. Her talk features the #TalkingIsALifeline campaign, which aims to encourage men to talk about their mental health without the fear of being judged. The fourth keynote speaker of the day is Andrew Dugmore who will be sharing his inspirational recovery story of serious mental illness, “Light at the end of the tunnel” We will then hear from Jeff Smith, founder of the event charity, Big Moose, who provides employment for the homeless at his coffee shop in the city centre of Cardiff.
The conference will then break for lunch, where everyone can help themselves to the buffet area, have an opportunity to network with delegates and speakers, and browse the exhibition stands.
After lunch we welcome two more amazing guests to the stage. Mair Elliott who will be sharing her story of life with mental illness and autism. Followed by Mark Williams, the founder of International Fathers Mental Health Day and the #Howareyoudad campaign after experiencing post-natal depression.
There will then be an afternoon break of hot drinks and a sweet treat before we are all seated back in the conference area for Q&A session where all the speakers will be on stage and delegates are given the opportunity to ask any questions.
It is going to incredible day of inspiration, motivation, knowledge and awareness focused around mental health.
If you would like more information or to book a ticket please get in touch with the team by calling 02920 576883, emailing dawn@ajuda.org.uk or rachel@ajuda.org.uk
Or you can find more details and all booking options on Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talking-mental-health-national-conference-tickets-61777247410
Just to let you know that there are Early bird options for delegate tickets and exhibitor stands that end on the 31st August
Ajuda launch a Mental Health conference
Talking Mental Health is a conference that shall be taking place on World Mental Health Day, Thursday 10th October 2019.
Dawn and Rachel are very passionate about sharing knowledge and advice about Mental Health, so this day will be filled with just that.
The conference will be held from 10am to 4pm at Cardiff City Stadium and will include;
- Keynote Speakers
- A day of Inspiration
- Free Resources
- Expert Knowledge
- Professional Advice
- Success Stories
- 2 Course Lunch
- Refreshments
Early bird tickets: £75 +VAT
Regular price: £95 +VAT
Time to Talk Day 2018
On the 1st February 2018 it is National #TimeToTalk 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. It’s easy to think that there is no right place to talk about mental health. But, the more we talk about it, the better and healthier life is for all of us. Get involved with Time to Talk Day by having a conversation about mental health and showing that we can all talk about this subject anywhere – in a lift, at the gym or even up a mountain!
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?
A whopping one in four people are affected by mental health problems at some point during their life. This means that right now, one of your friends, colleagues or loved ones is currently affected. Despite how common mental illness is, people are still afraid to talk about it. Unfortunately, this often means that people suffer alone because they are too afraid to speak out about their health problems.Time to Talk day aims to get people talking about mental health and through this, stop the stigma, aid recovery, improve relationships and break down stereotypes regarding something that can affect us all. Together we can stop people from feeling isolated or judged when they are experiencing a mental health problem. Too many people with mental health problems are made to feel isolated, worthless and ashamed. Time to Talk Day is a chance for all of us to be more open about mental health.
How?
This year, on Time to Talk Day, we would like to urge everyone to open the conversation on mental health wherever you are. At Ajuda, we will be sure to have a positive and honest conversation in the office about mental health. 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.
Useful Resources
For further information about Time To Talk Day please visit www.time-to-change.org.uk
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.
Dawn Evans to talk at The National Education Show
Dawn Evans is also set to talk at The National Education Show in November 2018. Dawn established Ajuda 10 years ago after her young daughter choked on a sweet. She realised the huge importance of first aid training; if she did not have essential first aid skills, her daughter could have died. After this incidence, Dawn set out to become a qualified first aid trainer and started teaching parents, teachers, creche assistants, schools and colleges first aid skills. First aid and teaching people how easy it is to save a life has become a passion for Dawn.
Ajuda specialises in a variety of health and safety related courses in order to keep schools safe. Ajuda facilitates affordable courses in schools throughout the UK and are specialists in onsite training during school inset days.
At The National Education Show, Dawn will be holding a seminar introducing how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator in a school environment. Parents count on school staff & teachers to keep their children safe – in class, in the halls, and on the athletic fields. By attending Dawn’s seminar, delegates will take a step towards becoming advocates for automated external defibrillators. Delegates will learn, on a basic level, how to protect children and staff from sudden cardiac arrest and potentially death. Being equipped with this life-saving knowledge also ensures that other teachers are protected in the school environment.
During the seminar, Dawn will be showing attendees the basic skills required to save a life, including the use of CPR and the external defibrillator. To book your ticket to attend Dawn’s seminar, please see here.
The National Education show is an all-day education conference in South Wales that plays host to over 4,000 teachers, 100 companies and 40 professional speakers. Last year, Ajuda ran a competition at the show for attendees to win a life-saving defibrillator for their school. The lucky school that won the competition was Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary School. We are thrilled to announce that this year we will be running the same competition. For more information about our stand please read our exhibitor spotlight here.
Please see here to find out more about Dawn. To book your ticket for Dawn’s seminar please see here.
Dawn Davies to talk at The National Education Show
One of our fantastic trainers has been selected to speak at the prestigious National Education Show in November.
Dawn Davies, a retired qualified nurse, has a wealth of experience in the field and in the classroom. Dawn will be delivering a seminar on identifying, diagnosing and treating ongoing medical conditions affecting children. Dawn regularly delivers seminars and training to teachers and students regarding medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes and anaphylaxis.
Medical conditions are a huge worry for any parent and teacher. During the seminar Dawn will show attendees how to recognise and treat a child or teacher suffering from a variety of medical conditions. Dawn will share her wealth of experience and explain how to keep children safe in the classroom, whilst enjoying their school years with a controlled medical condition.
To book your ticket to attend Dawn’s seminar, please see here.
The National Education Show is an all-day education conference in Wales that plays host to over 4,000 teachers, 100 companies and 40 professional speakers. Last year, Ajuda were sponsors/supporters of the show and exhibited in the upstairs hall. We ran a competition at the show for teachers to win a life-saving defibrillator for their school. We’re thrilled to announce that this year we will be running the same competition. For more information about our stand please read our exhibitor spotlight here.
Facing being made redundant? Training opportunities for you.
With recent news from local companies such as Brains Brewery of jobs under threat and pending redundancies on the horizon, we have written this blog to signpost accessible opportunities that are available to you here in Wales if you are made redundant.
Being made redundant can be a time of great stress and unease. On the plus side however, it can open up new and exciting opportunities for you – you could be right around the corner from a whole new career change. Is it possible that you might want to retrain or add to your existing skillset?
There are many different routes that you can take when you have been made redundant. Our personal favourite? Retraining!
In fact, one of our trainers received funding to retrain after an injury prevented her to continue her career as a nurse. After taking her training with Ajuda through funding, she became one of our brilliant regular tutors. Receiving funding helped her to develop both her career and as a person.
Been made redundant? How funding from the Welsh Government can help you through your redundancy: ReAct.
The Redundancy Action Scheme (ReAct) is a programme of funding for training provided by the Welsh Government for people facing redundancy who live or work in Wales. If you have been made redundant in the last 3 months and are currently unemployed, or, are currently under notice of redundancy, you will be eligible to ReAct funding. You are entitled to £1,500 worth of training to upskill or retrain to help you become employed. Additional funding can also be accessed to help towards extra costs associated with training such as, travel, accommodation, and childcare. This is only available to you if you have not undertaken any publicly funded training since being made redundant.
Ajuda Ltd specialise in providing training to individuals to increase their employment prospects. Every place of work requires or would highly benefit from employing somebody trained in first aid, fire safety, customer service and more. Furthermore, like our trainer, you could pursue a fulfilling career as a trainer. We offer a full range of accredited training to suit your individual needs. Each training programme can be individually tailored to ensure each individual has the best possible chance of regaining future employment.
If you would like to know more, please contact us on 02920 576 883 or email Daisy on admin@ajuda.org.uk for free advice and further information. You can also pop in to your nearest Careers Wales office for further guidance about the ReAct scheme.
Defibrillator delivered to lucky school by Ajuda
We are thrilled to announce that the winner of our free defibrillator competition that we ran at The National Education Show last month is Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary School. The defibrillator was delivered by our Managing Director, Dawn, on 21st November along with a practical demonstration of how to use it for the staff.
On average, defibrillators are worth between £1,000 – £1,500. The model that we have given as a prize is the LIFEPAK CR Plus AED. The school and the nearby rugby club had previously been fundraising for a defibrillator earlier on in the year but unfortunately, the fundraiser fell through at the last minute. Winning this prize has come as a very welcome surprise to all members of staff at Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary and to members of staff at the adjoining leisure centre. All staff, parents, pupils and members of the public in close vicinity can feel protected and assured that they are in a heart safe area.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be in a position where I can give away one of these incredible devices. I’m really passionate about introducing more and more defibrillators into public spaces and ultimately saving lives. Thanks to a life-saving defibrillator and CPR training, my father is alive today. The fact that the defibrillator can be accessed in both the school and the leisure centre in Blaenavon is fantastic news” said Dawn after delivering the special prize.
The defibrillator will be used to give a high energy electric shock to the heart through the chest wall to someone who is in cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can affect people of all ages, gender, ethnicity and fitness levels. According to Resuscitation Council UK, a staggering 270 children die every year from SCA at school whilst 12 people under the age of 35 die each week due to SCA. If CPR is performed alongside the use of a defibrillator within the first 3-5 minutes, survival chances increase from 6% to 74%.
These statistics highlight how crucial it is that schools are as prepared as possible to help somebody who has suffered a cardiac arrest. With their previous first aid training and their new defibrillator, Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary School is now one of the safer schools in Wales. Having a defibrillator on-site means that both the staff and the pupils are protected whilst at school. We are delighted to have played a part in creating a new heart safe area in Wales and are dedicated to introducing defibrillators into as many public spaces as possible.
Have you spotted a defibrillator in your local area? If so, let us know or send us a picture on Twitter @ajuda_training.
How safe is your building?
In light of last weeks tragic event in London, we have decided to focus this week’s blog on how to ensure that your building is as fire safe as it can be. Following on from our last blog regarding the importance of Fire Drills in the workplace, we will be highlighting prevention and protection measures that you can take. In a time where many people will be feeling incredibly worried about how to protect their buildings from fire, Ajuda will be offering a 20% discount off any of our in-house and our online Fire Safety courses.
Prevention
Fire prevention is the act of stopping fires from occurring. It is just as important to have a Fire Prevention plan in place as safety measures in the actual event of a fire.
Fire prevention measures may include matters such as:
– The prohibition of smoking on the premises.
– Adequate cleaning of work areas – keeping them clutter free. Bad housekeeping can not only cause a fire and help it spread, it can also hinder safe evacuations, obstruct access to firefighting equipment and obstruct fire exits.
– Avoiding the use of portable heaters and coolers.
– Preventing the accumulation of easily ignitable rubbish or paper.
– Regular risk assessments.
– Put in place security provisions that may help to reduce the risk of an arson attack.
– Positioning of heat sources to prevent contact with combustible material such as paper.
– Regular maintenance programmes of electrical equipment and wiring.
– Positioning of heaters and other machinery so that ventilators aren’t obstructed.
– Report electrical hazards.
– Never block sprinklers, firefighting equipment or emergency exits. Observe clearances when stacking materials.
– Ensure at least one person in the building is trained in how to use a fire extinguisher correctly.
Basically, fire prevention is focused on the principle of keeping fuel sources and ignition sources separate. If something creates heat, keep things that burn away from it.
Protection
Fire protection can save lives and minimise the amount of damage when a fire does occur. Some fire measures are built into a property whereas others can be introduced later (sometimes as a result of a fire risk assessment). There are two types of fire protection measures, either active or passive controls:
An Active Control Measure requires an action by somebody or something (e.g automated system) when a fire is detected. Examples include:
– Fire alarm systems
– Smoke detectors
– Emergency lighting
– Sprinkler systems
– Fire extinguishers, blankets and hoses
A Passive Control Measure are usually physical features that have been designed to make a building safer. Examples include:
– Compartmentation (e.g. fire-resistant walls, ceilings and doors to restrict fires from spreading)
– Fire exits
– Multiple escape routes and refuges
– Clear signage and emergency lighting
If you would like to take advantage of our current discounts please click here for our online training portal and here for our in-house fire safety course.
International Women’s Day
8th March 2016 – International Women’s Day is a day for celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women all around the globe.
‘ “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights,” says world-renowned feminist, journalist and social and political activist Gloria Steinem. International Women’s Day is all about celebration, reflection, advocacy, and action – whatever that looks like globally at a local level. But one thing is for sure, International Women’s Day has been occurring for over a century – and is growing annually from strength to strength.’ www.internationalwomensday.com
Ajuda Limited is led by founder and managing director Dawn Evans. Since forming Ajuda Limited in October 2009, Dawn and her team have trained over 40,000 students in a variety of vocational qualifications such as First Aid, Health and Safety and Fire Safety to name a few. Dawn’s daughter, Beth, choked as a child. This impassioned Dawn as it highlighted to her the importance of learning first aid skills. Had she not had the training, her daughter may have died. Ajuda really are educating people to save lives, and this fact alone makes Dawn’s hard work worthwhile.
In March 2015 Dawn was announced as one of the most inspirational people in Wales, being awarded the Educator award at the Inspire Wales Awards. In September 2015 she was nominated as a finalist for Female Entrepreneur of the year at the South Wales Business Awards. Most recently, Dawn was invited to St. James Palace where she had the opportunity to talk to HRH Prince Phillip about the extensive first aid training that Ajuda carries out.
Proud to be recognised with the Investors in People Award, Ajuda is a community-focused company. Ajuda aims to make a really positive difference to individuals, teams and organisations alike. In addition to her role as Managing Director of Ajuda, Dawn is a role model for the Welsh Government Big Ideas Program. This involves delivering presentations on entrepreneurship, where she takes the time to share her experiences with students age 13 upwards in order to inspire confidence and motivation, encouraging them to consider launching their own company in the future. Dawn is incredibly passionate about this work and is a business mentor for The Prince’s Trust – a role in which she mentors young individuals who are about to start their journey into entrepreneurship.
Dawn set up Heartstart Cardiff in partnership with the British Heart Foundation in 2014. Heartstart is a scheme where Dawn and her trainers work on a voluntary basis providing first aid training free to local school children. The British Heart Foundation nominated Dawn for a Heart Hero Award to celebrate her fundraising and contribution to the BHF – she was announced as the winner of this award in 2015.
Ajuda celebrates strong, successful women not only today, but every day. From an office run by women, Ajuda acknowledges the importance of strong, female figures.
Happy International Women’s Day everybody!
