Page 2 | Are these remarks inappropriate

Lou972 · 2025-02-15T23:56:52+00:00

I attended an adult first aid course. The instructor made these remarks when discussing the defib. 1. Cut off a womens bra as it might have metal. If you're like me though, I've been told I'm useless at removing womens bras and they tell me 'get away from me' 1. Find the correct spot for the defib pads (then showed us where to put them) then said 'if a womans breasts are low then move them out the way' 1. Do not touch the persons bum when putting them into recovery position, this is sexual harassment 1. Shave a mans chest if it is hairy before using the defib, or it might be needed for a womans chest if you come from where I live Some of the learners where age 17 as well so not adults

LuckysDadsHat · 16/02/2025 09:59

EleanorReally · 16/02/2025 09:53

our defib was out of date apparently, so worse than useless

That's really poor. There is no excuse for the pads and defibs being over the expiry date. Although.... it would most likely still work if it was needed so not entirely useless. Whoever looks after it needs to get a spreadsheet of all expiry dates and change out when needed. They aren't cheap for replacements, but what price can you put on a life!

It strikes me some companies have defibs as a pr benefit and actually don't audit them once a month, provide yearly training on them for staff and look after them! They would prefer to say aren't we amazing look we have defibs and xyz etc. ... but actually not looking after the equipment.

ThatAgileGoldMoose · 16/02/2025 09:58

GoldMoon · 16/02/2025 09:32

Ridiculous to suggest having to shave a man's chest surely ?
Finds man in street unconscious and not breathing , runs off to find defib , runs back , another person is doing cpr ( might not , you could be alone ) rips of their top , finds hairy chest , runs off to boots to buy shaving gel & razor , queues up to buy , runs back to find man very dead ( and body cooling by then )

This is why first aid training is needed.

A defib is that man's best chance of survival. It isn't a niceity to shave his chest, the life saving defib Will. Not. Work if it doesn't get good adhesion to skin surface. Not just "won't work as good as it could," it Will Not Work. That is why there will be a razor in the defib bag, along with idiot-proof instructions for how to use the defib.

No shaving cream, because we are caring about saving his life, not about shaving rash.

Mumsgirls · 16/02/2025 09:57

Oh dear thought the ‘ Karen insults’ had died out, but there’s always one.
You are so out of date Auburn, time to update your mysoginistic insult of choice.
Or maybe don’t insult blameless women for having a name

notacooldad · 16/02/2025 09:56

I've been on courses like that.
I'm not offended. I may feel like rolling my eyes but to me it's not a big deal.

EleanorReally · 16/02/2025 09:53

our defib was out of date apparently, so worse than useless

Chiseltip · 16/02/2025 09:50

Maxorias · 16/02/2025 01:06

I am slightly baffled that anyone would have the necessary equipment and/or the time to shave someone's chest before they die, if they're in cardiac arrest !

Show quote history

All Defibs have a shaving pack included. It's absolutely necessary to shave thick hair or the pads won't stick.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 16/02/2025 09:49

From this thread the number of people who have no idea how to use a defib properly is alarming. If your work place has one you should be able to use it. We now have bleed kits as well as defibs and I would expect them to become more common overtime. Hopefully training will be thorough for everyone

toomuchfaff · 16/02/2025 09:48

Maxorias · 16/02/2025 01:11

I appreciate that but, for instance, we have a defibrillator at work. If a hairy-chested man needed it, by the time we'd found a razor he'd be dead. If it's that important they should pack a razor and shaving cream with the machine !

Show quote history

don't ever use shaving foam. Dry shave only. Or you're risking burns to skin and equipment won't work with wet skin.

RaininSummer · 16/02/2025 09:48

I think his comedy just missed that mark but he does need to be careful as some people will complain and he could lose his job especially Because he is teaching under 18s. Something similar happened to a colleague of mine. Someone should advise him to tone it down.

LuckysDadsHat · 16/02/2025 09:47

fourelementary · 16/02/2025 09:44

I wouldn’t suggest that- those pads cost a decent bit of money!! There will be (bic type) razors in with the defibs.

Show quote history

Our pads cost £110 per set plus VAT. If someone started using them for waxing strips I think words would be had even in an emergency! Every defib we have (we have over 20) has a defib "accessory" pack attached to the defib so it would be in situ with the defib.

Jackiepumpkinhead · 16/02/2025 09:46

EdithBond · 16/02/2025 02:57

The shaving the women’s chest comment is clearly inappropriate.

The sexual harassment comment is a bit weird. Surely goes without saying, there’s no need to touch someone’s arse when giving First Aid.

When putting someone in the recovery position, you would usually use their hip to roll them. I think he was trying to state the obvious with some outdated humour.

Evilspiritgin · 16/02/2025 09:46

My first aid course and a quick google mention moving larger boobs out of the way, plus the use of a razor for hairy chests

maybe he thought he was being more relatable with you mostly being women, mine kept telling us about doing cpr on a close family member (very off putting), it sadly didn’t work as the person had been deceased for a few hours

fourelementary · 16/02/2025 09:44

BishBashBoomer · 16/02/2025 01:15

They do pack a razor in the defib box generally. If not, you can use one of the spare pads as a waxing strip.

I wouldn’t suggest that- those pads cost a decent bit of money!! There will be (bic type) razors in with the defibs.

toomuchfaff · 16/02/2025 09:43

Maxorias · 16/02/2025 01:06

I am slightly baffled that anyone would have the necessary equipment and/or the time to shave someone's chest before they die, if they're in cardiac arrest !

Show quote history

In a hospital situation, there is sometimes razors in the crash cart as a very hairy chest can reduce effectiveness of the equipment.

It's not a situation where the area is prepped, water and foam applied - its literally razor to hair, few strokes to remove a sticker sized patch and go - like 4 seconds.

3teens2cats · 16/02/2025 09:41

*put

MyLimeGuide · 16/02/2025 09:41

StormingNorman · 16/02/2025 01:17

Someone fancies themselves as a 1970s style comedian. I couldn’t get worked up about it though.

This is the best response, move on.

3teens2cats · 16/02/2025 09:40

Can we just purchase the shaving thing to bed. Yes you should shave, there should be a razor in the defibrillator kit. You just roughly dry shave so the pad will stick, takes seconds.

ScaryM0nster · 16/02/2025 09:38

GoldMoon · 16/02/2025 09:32

Ridiculous to suggest having to shave a man's chest surely ?
Finds man in street unconscious and not breathing , runs off to find defib , runs back , another person is doing cpr ( might not , you could be alone ) rips of their top , finds hairy chest , runs off to boots to buy shaving gel & razor , queues up to buy , runs back to find man very dead ( and body cooling by then )

Nope.

very necessary to get good contact between most pads and the patient.

alwaysdeleteyourcookies · 16/02/2025 09:37

Ridiculous to suggest having to shave a man's chest surely ?

Not at all, as numerous other people have pointed out upthread.

QuickCrossword · 16/02/2025 09:33

The one comment was funny but the others not. Very dated and old-fashioned.

GoldMoon · 16/02/2025 09:32

Ridiculous to suggest having to shave a man's chest surely ?
Finds man in street unconscious and not breathing , runs off to find defib , runs back , another person is doing cpr ( might not , you could be alone ) rips of their top , finds hairy chest , runs off to boots to buy shaving gel & razor , queues up to buy , runs back to find man very dead ( and body cooling by then )

ThatAgileGoldMoose · 16/02/2025 09:32

Then he really didn't read and respond to the room, did he. What a tool.

Original poster

Lou972 · 16/02/2025 09:30

ThatAgileGoldMoose · 16/02/2025 09:28

I would have a problem with 3 out of 4 of those comments. The bum one is the one I wouldn't, because it is important for a first aid trainer to mention appropriate touch, even when the casualty is unconscious. The low hanging boobs one I only have a problem with because of the context of his other comments. I've been on way more first aid training courses then the average person and never have I heard somebody make reference to low hanging boobs. I'm strongly of the opinion that a woman with a large chest herself could have got away with that comment way better than a man could. If he felt so strongly that it was worth mentioning (a lot of the time trainers are people who have had cause to use their first aid skills in real emergencies and they often have unique experience that they share, so it is possible that he was speaking from experience) then he should have been direct and serious about it, and moved on. The fact that he made comments 1 and 4 is the problem because they have put it into a context of sexist humour.

(Gallows humour that a lot of people in emergency services share as a coping mechanism isn't appropriate for the context of a first aid at work training room).

I think humour can have a place in first aid training - it can break tension, keep folk engaged and create a useful "you and I are safe and on the same team" feeling. The humour he used failed because it "othered" women, and there was at least one woman in the room. You are justified to feel it was inappropriate and it would justify a complaint in my eyes.

Majority or us were women in the room

OP posts:

SallyWD · 16/02/2025 09:29

None of that would bother me.

alwaysdeleteyourcookies · 16/02/2025 09:29

Lou972 · 16/02/2025 09:27

No that’s definitely how he meant it
im not getting worked up or offended. I’m not going to complain. My question was were the remarks inappropriate for the situation

Show quote history

Alright. I can't say I would have done more than roll my eyes. But opinions will be divided.