Unpaid work

[Horse]

... have a shocked look ...

Actually it's more likely to be a fuckin terrified look

I've not had to do it, yet. If- when, probably only a matter of time - I'll let you know

[Horse]

or would this be considered inappropriate?

When I was doing the First Responder training years ago, we were told that if they "would prefer that we used the nelly the elephant song for timing the compressions as singing Staying Alive whilst trying to revive someone could cause offence to nearby relatives"

'The song' changes every few years. "Another one bites the dust" was the one to really really not sing

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

... have a shocked look ...

Actually it's more likely to be a fuckin terrified look

I've not had to do it, yet. If- when, probably only a matter of time - I'll let you know

Your training will kick in and you'll just get on with it if you have to.

[wheelnut]

or would this be considered inappropriate?

When I was doing the First Responder training years ago, we were told that if they "would prefer that we used the nelly the elephant song for timing the compressions as singing Staying Alive whilst trying to revive someone could cause offence to nearby relatives"

Traditional or the Toy Dolls version?

Nelly the elephant is a bit outdated, staying alive is the more recent one. Anything 100-120 bmp will do though.

I always though Nelly was quite good tho as you could do it to the lyrics rather than the beat.

[Horse]

Nelly the elephant is a bit outdated, staying alive is the more recent one. Anything 100-120 bmp will do though.

I always though Nelly was quite good tho as you could do it to the lyrics rather than the beat.

And ending "Trump trump trump" got the numbers right.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Lots of hearts in the right place on this thread,but sometimes those right next to you can be overlooked.

I'd be happy to go and park their cars better for them

[MyLittleStudPony]

I'm thinking about applying to be a Samaritans listening volunteer.

They helped me a lot when I was struggling. I wonder if I might be able to help other people in that way.

I will volunteer via their procedure and see if they think I am suitable. I might be too flakey still, I'll be honest about where I am and let them make that decision.

[Cousin Jack]

I'm thinking about applying to be a Samaritans listening volunteer.

They helped me a lot when I was struggling. I wonder if I might be able to help other people in that way.

I will volunteer via their procedure and see if they think I am suitable. I might be too flakey still, I'll be honest about where I am and let them make that decision.

It is hard work, but very rewarding. I have had one or two call the CA when they were suicidal. It is a big thing when you realise that what you say, ir don't say, could tip them over the edge, or make them stepback.

[Horse]

Same reason I give blood like clockwork, very hard to not use it for the thing I donated towards.

When I first started, the Army's blood transfusion team used to come into work and go away 100 units better off.

Later, it emerged that the officer in command was flogging it and was substantially better off!

[Mr. Dazzle]

Same reason I give blood like clockwork, very hard to not use it for the thing I donated towards.

When I first started, the Army's blood transfusion team used to come into work and go away 100 units better off.

Later, it emerged that the officer in command was flogging it and was substantially better off!

You have a lot of blood!

Who was he flogging it to out of curiosity? AFAIK it's illegal to pay for donations in the UK, but i dunno about buying/selling the finished product.

[Count Steer]

Clear!!! Bzzzt!

"Move back!" [Move oxygen mask away] Check, point, 'name' "Top Middle Bottom"
If all clear ...
"Shocking" Presses button!

Oddly enuff, I've been pondering recently - I know where a few community defibs are but wouldn't know how to use one. (They say that the instructions are clear but..and some have a key code needed for access). Wonder if I can get eg our local St John's to run a session on procedure or if they do them already? I'll make enquiries.

(I did do some training as part of Life Saving awards but it was a loooong time ago and I know some of the techniques have fallen out of favour).

[Horse]

When I first started, the Army's blood transfusion team used to come into work and go away 100 units better off.

Later, it emerged that the officer in command was flogging it and was substantially better off!

You have a lot of blood!

Had But I was incredibly generous

Who was he flogging it to out of curiosity? AFAIK it's illegal to pay for donations in the UK, but i dunno about buying/selling the finished product.

No idea. This was early 1980s. I had a brief Google but it's difficult to think of specific search terms for the events.

[Count Steer]

On the community/helping people front, the Food Programme on R4 yesterday had a feature on 'Man with a Pan' where they teach older blokes how to cook. Quite often these chaps are trying to look after the person that used to do the cooking. The impact it's had on some of them was quite moving.

https://communitychef.org.uk/man-with-a ... all-began/

[Horse]

Oddly enuff, I've been pondering recently - I know where a few community defibs are but wouldn't know how to use one. (They say that the instructions are clear but..and some have a key code needed for access). Wonder if I can get eg our local St John's to run a session on procedure or if they do them already? I'll make enquiries.

They really are easy to use, and difficult to misuse.

Typically, as soon as you open the lid, they yell at you. The process is:
- open the lid
- open the pack with the pads
- stick the pads on (there are diagrams)

It will tell you "do not touch the casualty" so it can check for their heart (not yours).

If they are in VF, it will advise that you shock them. Stand back, Bzzzt!

Edit: it won't shock if there is a heartbeat, or if there is nothing at all

It will also tell you when (and usually how) to do CPR.

Only other things to know:
- if casualty is wet, dry where the pads go (towel in the pack)
- if they're hairy, shave those areas (razor in the pack)
- move any necklaces to one side
- if casualty has an underwired bra, cut at the side and shoulder strap to move away (scissors in pack)
- if casualty has a sewn-in defib or pacemaker, put the pads somewhere else
- remove any medical patches stuck on the chest

I'll look later for a YouTube vid.


SJA and Red Cross probably will. Possibly your local ambulance service. Heart Start day is in October, loads of sessions. If you're in any clubs, ask (and pay! - these charities have to survive somehow) for an organisation to run a session.

[Horse]

Generally I don't like giving to charideeee for these kinda reasons. Only a small percentage of my charity actually reaches the cause!

FWIW SCA-Charity provide my uniform & kit, plus there are vehicles available too.

For the kit, the defib is £1250, there's a gradual process to replace with a model that matches equipment in the ambulance. They're £1500.

Just one of the small observation kit items is £250!

I don't get the impression that there's much spent on admin, company cars and nice suits

[Greenman]

I spent a good year when i was in my late teens volunteering for a local Charity, i forget the name now, something to do with the national trust.

I used to do a lot of menial gardening work. Me and friend helped out at a local Mill (Willsbridge Mill) and used to love being let loose with Sythe's and other large sharp instruments.

I also used to do a lot of bar work and ground work for free for my cricket team, but that was part and parcel of being part of a local cricket team.

I haven't really got the spare time anymore, the volunteering i was doing when i was a teen was in between jobs so i didn't really have any major commitments back then.

[Horse]

Short version, absolute basics, shows how easy they are to use:



Longer, worth watching for background info on what & why:

[Noggin]

As Horse said, the difibs are difficult to misuse! Even back when I was doing the FR thing, the box told us what to do (that was about 20+ ish years ago!)

or would this be considered inappropriate?

When I was doing the First Responder training years ago, we were told that if they "would prefer that we used the nelly the elephant song for timing the compressions as singing Staying Alive whilst trying to revive someone could cause offence to nearby relatives"

Traditional or the Toy Dolls version?

we did get roundly told off at one refresher course when a couple of the guys launched into the Toy Dolls version - luckily using the resus annie!!

I'm thinking about applying to be a Samaritans listening volunteer.

They helped me a lot when I was struggling. I wonder if I might be able to help other people in that way.

I will volunteer via their procedure and see if they think I am suitable. I might be too flakey still, I'll be honest about where I am and let them make that decision.

I volunteered for the training in my early 20's - I was living on Guernsey at the time and wanted to do something to help. Didn't realise quite how messed up I was at the time, but when the training reduced me to a mess of tears/gibbering wreck on about the second or third session, we decided that maybe I wasn't in a good place to help

Haven't been back since and don't have the language skills to do anything like that here (still not sure I'm in the right place mind, but hey ho - getting there!!)

[Mussels]

If the work needs doing someone should be paid to do it.

I partially agree but you sound like a union rep.
My wife did volunteer admin at the local (private) hospital which was convenient for her but I thought it was taking the piss, she's now doing hospice care which doesn't pay a lot but at least it does pay.

[Horse]

Something that's not been mentioned is benefits for the volunteer.

It's been shown that volunteering, along with learning new skills, has benefits in happiness and health.