We were talking about it when someone went off at a complete tangent and started a Hyde Park Corner monologue on disabilities in the St John. I'm sure he/she feels better for purging that random collection of facts I have no desire to check to see if they are accurate!!

The fact of the matter is that Cycle Responder was not a paramedic, did not ride a bike for the NHS and was telling big fat porkies. At the very most, he did it for the VAS but that is all. Perhaps the VAS do allow it - after all they allow practically anyone to volunteer with any number of disabilities and reasons why professional employment in an allied role is out of their reach, and after all that is all they are - volunteers and hobbyists.

The CRU do not let asthmatics on the bike because they are likely to have an asthma attack rendering their response curtailed or them unfit to treat patients on arrival. Its only common sense. Simple. It is exactly the same as the HART team not letting people on who are scared of heights, confined spaces or doing dangerous things. Same as a paramedic with a fear of flying won't be going on Helimed. Regardless of how unfair it might seem to people, it is what it is and it doesn't affect anyone at all apart from those who are asthmatic and are disappointed that their dream of riding a mountain bike with blue lights on for the NHS will never come true.

Thanks admin



I am sure I am not the only one getting sick of first aiders and first aid training getting slated at every turn, people are leaving this forum because of the answers they have had to simple questions.  I would rather they ask with confidence if they are not sure, rather than just carry on doing or teaching the wrong thing because they are afraid of getting a nasty answer here.  Surely that is what the forum is for?

there are a few side effects of salbutamol that can be quite dangerous under certain circumstances. However can a pharmacist be blamed for someone who lies to a pharmacist to gain one, or who fills in the paperwork incorrectly. If you see a doctor then at least he has previous medical history etc.

Answering each point in turn - your perception of the equality act is incorrect. 

The account Privamb2 was restricted for flaming.  I pointed out many times that it was a bogus account sent up by the bogus paramedic and was not me.  The account however remains.

If however you are saying that my raising very valid concerns about the AOFA and AOFAQ statement as to its actual position, in particular that it is THE ofqual awarding body for first aid, well, you have not, so far seen fit to answer.

I retract everything I ever said that has caused consternation.  SJA people are so fit that they are Olympians and are awarded a their parachute wings the moment they pass FAW.  Nothing bad can be said about them and they all deserve OBE's.  People will never, ever vomit or regurgitate when unconcious so flipping them side to side should be done as often as possible.  Your book says it prevents build up of fluid, other books mention tissue viability, but no explaination is needed, just do it.  So long as its written down, bad practice is ok.

I note that one of the commentators here has a history of impersonating a student paramedic and his bessie mate was lifted for impersonating a doctor, but hey, so long as everyone is nice to each other, bad practice and dangerous people can all get along just fine.  So long as its all done in the name of first aid, anything goes.

Privamb ,



when you continue to make statements such as this 



"Perhaps the VAS do allow it - after all they allow practically anyone to volunteer with any number of disabilities and reasons why professional employment in an allied role is out of their reach, and after all that is all they are - volunteers and hobbyists. "



then it's unsuprising that people will be unhappy with your comments.  your comment there is inaccurate, arguably adefamtory  and you have stated  in the same message that you  don;t care whether your statement is accurate  or not .



your previous comments about people volunteering with VASes who have been medically discharged from HMF is  really  rather pointless and the fitness standards and 'reasonable adjustments' are far stricter   primarily to allow  Military personnel to work unsupported in austere conditions and not to put people at  unnecessary risk  should supply lines be disrupted or they be captured ... 



Ditto with regard to VAS volunteers and  not being fit for NHS service, i presume  you are referring there to  crewing for the Ambulance Service as you might be surprised  at exactly how disabled some NHS  acute  sector  staff are  and also some ofthe 'back room boys and girls' in the ambulance service 



the simple fact is that the fitness standards for differing roles within SJA  differ  and i suspect that the same will apply for the red cross ,  also within event work there is space for reasonable adjustments under the Equality act to include people with limited manual handling capabilities  in some roles.

That would be the CQC compliant, responsive to trust's needs  and  defined  reserve to the NHS  ambulance service.  a lot of  the time it's paid staff  doing the regular  reserve / support work anyway, as you can't assure  cover  with solely volunteers  although traditional winter pressures support work can often be well supported by volunteers as can civil contingencies stuff ( but the civil contingencies stuff  is because of  community spirited employers releasing people during the initial few days )



It is surprising that the NHS Ambulance service has kept overtime for so long, but  with the closed shop of IHCD training lasting so long it's perhaps understandable  especially for 999 work, that said  a lot of acute trusts clamped right down on overtime and made people do extra hours as bank ( and this is hardly a new idea it was accepted practice for none specialist  clinical areas in many hospitals 15 years ago )

Privamb, having time to think about your reply clearly does not make you any less bombastic.  As I have said; debate is healthy and just becasue someone has a contrary oppinion to you it does not make them wrong.  Clearly you feel passionately about this subject; but it does not give you the right to be insulting - which I feel some of your posts have been.  Oh, you can say what you like about me, frankly I don't much care, but you're not doing yourself or your argument any favours with your current tone.

Also this latest post does not belong in this thread.  Privamb please try to moderate your tone before someone does it for you.

I may have posted my previous post In the wrong section sorry

Cheers for asking Jeff.  FAAMS set a standard, but it never enforced the standard.  Periodically it sent some scouting association muppets out to tell you your training met their standard.  Nobody was ever struck off.  Nobody who pretended to have approval was ever prosecuted when they were reported.  It was pointless.  FAAMS was therefore got rid of.  Scout Enterprises still see a few quid in it before October so are announcing visits on people.  They can go forth and get a sewing badge or something.  I wrote a go forth letter for a colleague only yesterday.



Forget set curriculum.  Its learning outcomes, and those learning outcomes need to be current, not what some firstaidasauraus VAS numpties decide is par for the course whilst their next version of the book they claim is the bible is in proof reading.



Some people, and the owners of this site, who also own AOFAQ, AOFA, First Aid Insurance etc are selling themselves as the replacement to FAAMS when there is in fact no proposed replacement to FAAMS.  In fact there are many limited companies offering this service, but they claim to be the only one.  Eventually I imagine I won't be able to post here and my posts will be removed.  The moment you see my account banned you will know I have touched the cranial nerve that jerks the knee.



What would I like to see - yes - a proper, enforced, regulated standard.  Well, its not going to happen.  Lofstead has decided that.  I have to accept that it is not going to happen.  What I will not accept is in the darkened void that this leaves, snake oil salesmen breaking the law to put themselves on a stronger commercial footing as a competitor.  Those persons and organisations are about to get a rude awakening as did the IHCD who are now EDEXEL and don't even exist outside of IHCD "In Howson's Computer Database".



I am sorry to say that FAC which was once a good resource for 10 years or more is part of a collection of organisations that has spent a Ferrari's worth of member subs on nothing in particular.  There is a book.  On the back of that book is a misrepresentation.  That misrepresentation has not been retracted. I intend to see that it is.  Its nothing personal, it may be a mistake, but it is damaging to legitimate business practice and the evidence is there for the OFT and the Trading Standard amongst others to see, let alone OFQUAL and the other alphabet soup awarding bodies they claim to be "the" awarding organisation for.



To reiterate.  After FAAMS finally closes its shutters (it is uncontactable in any case) then that is it.  There is no standard, there is no regulation, it is up to employers to decide if the first aid provision they buy in meets the standard required of their risk assessments.  FAAMS ended up on the Bonfire of the Quango's the Tory government promised.  Goodnight, Adieu, Guten Nacht, Kalinikta, Dobre Vietch.  There is no good morning.  Ofqual are not the replacement and anything connected with this site does not give replacement approval, either with ot without in house sold insurance.

Goodness, I enjoy popping in to read the posts but am only merely a nursery nurse who has done first aid training, so it is sad to see that this thread has not been used for a discussion.  Like 'Norfolkpolice' I was expecting some interesting arguments about the sale fo the blue inhalers.



Well I would like to say I think it is a great idea - my son's girlfriend recently came in very wheezy but she did not have her inhaler (was an allergic reaction to horses when she had picked up a friend who had been in contact with them).  Thankfully she was able to keep herself calm and knew for her a very cold drink would help.  But it did make me think that being able to purchase blue inhalers was a great idea, esepcially in emergencies - with appropriate questions and paperwork but without the need to make Dr's appt etc.