Dorset carers are offered chance to learn lifesaving skills (From Bournemouth Echo)

Dorset carers are offered chance to learn lifesaving skills

3:00pm Sunday 27th January 2013 in News By Arron Hendy

CARERS are being offered the chance to learn lifesaving skills during free training sessions.

The St John Ambulance Carers’ Support Programme will teach a host of first aid techniques to adults who look after relatives, friends or neighbours.

They will learn how to deal with bleeding, burns, choking, fractures, hypothermia and how to put an unconscious person in the recovery position.

The programme is run weekly over four three-hour sessions and will also teach carers how to manage incontinence and stress, safer moving and handling, preventing falls and coping with dementia.

The course is accredited by the Royal College of Nursing and will be taught by an experienced nurse.

Julie McDermott, St John Ambulance Carers’ support programme manager, said: “We have helped hundreds of carers over the years that we’ve been running this programme.

“Everyone who takes part tells us they find our support and the skills they learn invaluable in coping with often very difficult situations.

“Basic first aid skills are absolutely essential for all carers and we hope as many people as possible will take advantage of these free sessions.”