First aid course - uncomfortable with instructor.

[StrongerThanIThought76]

Went on a first aid at work course recently and am still unsure as to whether or not the instructor was a bit too 'much'.

Aside from some very open racist comments, a few eyebrow raising sexist comments and some downright atrocious body-shaming comments ('breasts like beagles ears' anyone?) I am still feeling physically uncomfortable with the level of physical contact required from the session.

I have previously, yet a long time ago, been on the 3 day course and did a paediatric course 4 years ago for work.

Please can soneone confirm if the current Emergency First Aid in the Workplace qualification/procedures require the first aider to do the following upon the discovery of an unconscious but breathing casualty?

• feeling of skull all over
• feeling of forehead, nose, cheekbones
• feeling of neck for broken vertebrae
• feeling of side of ribs for breaks
• two-handed squeezing of legs from just below crotch to ankles to check for breaks
• two handed squeezing of arms from armpit to hand, as above.

This all before ringing for an ambulance.

Perhaps I am being very sensitive. However, in a room of complete strangers - mixed sexes and very diverse - we had to perform this check possibly 15 times altogether.

I will be making a complaint about the sexist and racist language anyway. AIBU to query if procedures have changed SO MUCH in the last few years that first aiders are now required to 'feel vigorously' for breaks by engaging in such an involved hands-on manner?

Thanks

I didn't do any of that. And any touching was really careful. Like "are you OK with me touching you before I do?" "anyone who doesn't want to do this bit please tell me at break" kind of thing.

My god, we did none of that

And unconscious was fairly immediately ambulance (after checking ABCs).

Was he teaching people to carry out these checks, what does it say in the training manual about what is expected of you. Was he drom a reputable first aid training company. What level of first aid training was it.

He had people feeling necks in case of breaks? That sounds fucking dangerous teaching to me! Any first aid course I've ever been on had taught not to move anyone with a chance of a neck or back injury unless their life was in immediate danger if you didn't.

I do first aid yearly.

Never, ever have I seen or done what you describe.

Absolutely not.!!!
Most of that should never been done to a casualty except by Dr/paramedic.

And ' feeling ' for fractures??? Etc
Observe
Ask
Perhaps v gentle exam ( professional only)
X-ray.

It was EFAW one day course. Independent trainer, not St John.

I had to leave early (he over-ran by 50 mins by the time I had to leave) and I forgot to pick up my booklet. We didn't refer to the booklet at all during the day.

This isn’t part of EFAW - the advice in an emergency is to get on to 999 ASAP. Was it an individual trainer or part of a company? I would follow it up.

I'd have got up and walked out at ' beagle's ears'.
Offensive.
Dangerously unprofessional.
Please report.

Casualty is safe, unconscious/unresponsive but is breathing. Were told to shout for help at this point but do all the above before recovery position to leave to call 999

All those checks before even ringing an ambulance would make me uncomfortable too. It's relying on people with minimal knowledge and experience to carefully and accurately assess pretty bad injuries in a high stress situation. Completely different if shown what to do in case you are instructed to do so by the emergency services.
Any course I've been to was very clear that no moving/handling should be done unless they'd die if you didn't.

We do Emergency First Aid at work every 3 years, and have never had to do that!

Sounds very dodgy! From the instructors manner to their actual teaching.

Please complain, the teaching is inappropriate for an EFAW course. Only thing you need to do for an unconscious breathing casualty is keep them safe and dial 999 and do what they tell you over the phone.

And the racism/sexism/personal comments... well, I’m speechless.

Presumably they went for the cheapest option they could find.

I won't describe to you the actions he made with regards to 'repositioning' beagles ears to find the right spot for CPR...

That sounds like a secondary survey, check body for possible injuries - not first aid which is secure airway and maintain circulation including stem bleeding.

First aid is exactly that, first aid, secondary surveys etc are to be carried out by ambulance or other medical staff. Although back in the 90's when I first did my First Aid At Work training secondary surveys were included, but these have been dropped since as can cause more harm that good.
I would never expect an emergency first aid course to include it as that quake as far as I know did not exist back then

He sounds like he doesnt know a lot. Especially how to act in front of others.

He sounds a bit of a beagle ear himself, see what the training company say.

Yes, it was demonstrated (and practiced, repeatedly) as secondary survey. That exact phrase. After which you dial 999

That's atrocious, on many fronts...

You need to report this, OP. He's completely inappropriate. I've had FA training and it was nothing at all like this. I don't think the instructor touched anyone at all.

I agree that sounds like a secondary survey. I'm a police officer and we are taught to check for injuries as you described in our yearly refresher but I wouldn't imagine that they would be taught on a general first aid at work course.

I’m a nurse and so do yearly CPR etc training. That is not only not the procedure, it sounds unsafe. Definitely complain.

I did those checks on my three day course, and DH did too on his, which was with a different instructor.