DropBy

A great website offering helpful hints and tips for the Summer season is NHS Summer health, you can learn the best way to treat stings, how to prevent hayfever and pick up some hints and tips on how to stay safe in the sun. See the NHS Summer health page here http://www.nhs.uk/LiveWell/Summerhealth/Pages/Summerhealthhome.aspx

These links below will take you directly to documents about supporting vulnerable people before and during a heatwave on the Department of Health website:

Looking after yourself and others during hot weather – (general public leaflet, key messages and top tips for keeping cool) http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_118307.pdf
Now also available in large print version: http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_116026.pdf 

Supporting vulnerable people before and during a heatwave (advice for health and social care professionals – updated) http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_134153.pdf

Supporting vulnerable people before and during a heatwave (advice for care home managers and staff – updated) http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_134156.pdf

The full heatwave plan and companion document Making the Case can be accessed via: Heatwave plan for England 2012 - (highlights public health messages and follow-up actions): http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_134155.pdf

Making the Case: - (much of the information previously in main Heatwave Plan and update information about likelihood of heatwaves and longer term planning): http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_134157.pdf

SENIORS & COMPUTERS As we Silver Surfers know, sometimes we have trouble with our computers. I had a problem yesterday, so I called Eric, the 11 year old next door, whose bedroom looks like Mission Control and asked him to come over. Eric clicked a couple of buttons and solved the problem. As he was walking away, I called after him, 'So, what was wrong ? He replied, 'It was an ID ten T error.' I didn't want to appear stupid, but nonetheless enquired, 'An, ID ten T error ? What's that? In case I need to fix it again.' Eric grinned .... 'Haven't you ever heard of an ID ten T error before ? 'No,' I replied. 'Write it down,' he said, 'and I think you'll figure it out.' So I wrote down: ID10T I used to like Eric, but now I am not so sure!!

Are we getting excited about the Olympics?

Are we all following the Olympic Torch Relay route?
I am finding myself fascinated by it all! I started to wonder how many DropBy members will see the Torch? Has anyone seen it so far?
By my calculation 3 members could have seen it by now. It went through Plymouth on Saturday 19th May.

Follow the Torch Relay Route here: http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/route/
 http://l2012.cm/IIDv8P

Another 3 members could have seen it yesterday as it went from Taunton to Bristol. It is day 5 today and it is moving from Bristol to Cheltenham. Another 2 members could see it today!

We have to wait until Day 63 but then it is coming right through the centre of our town - so excited!!

Does anyone have tickets for the Games? If, like me, you don't, perhaps we could devise some games to play within our little community when we are not watching the real ones on TV? Any ideas or suggestions?

Whether you are disabled or not, can you help reduce Blue Badge parking abuse? The Baywatch Survey asks people to record the number of vehicles parking at the supermarket in an accessible bay without a Blue Badge. The main reason for doing the survey is to show supermarkets – particularly the big names such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrison’s that parking abuse is a real problem for disabled people and to try and get them to tackle the issue. To take part in the survey please go to the disabled motoring website at http://www.disabledmotoring.org/campaigns/baywatch and print off the survey form. It's an easy to complete 2 page form. Take it with you when you do your weekly shop between the 11th and 24th June Complete the form when you make your shopping trip at any time betwee 11th and 24th June 2012. It doesn’t matter where you shop as this year the survey will cover all the supermarkets. The results will show if bay abuse has improved since 2009 when the last survey was carried out. Once completed please return your form to: Freepost RSRL-KAJL-YJCB (using a stamp helps save charity money) Disabled Motoring UK Ashwellthorpe Norwich NR16 1EX The more people who do this, the bigger the survey, and the greater the pressure to improve the current situation.

 

Community First Responder Schemes

You have slipped on the icy path. The village snow plan (if any...?) has not caught up with the heavy white downfall. Lucky you, the "green man" arrives - having received notice from the ambulance service. He is your village's "community first responder".  As he makes you comfortable - that cold pavement is now insulated, you ponder his shoulder badge - gleaming like a knight's shield. You ask "What is a Community First Responder?" 
He does not chant 1,2,3,.... as I have. But slowly responds with the following points whilst fitting a splint (CRFs please excuse My ignorance.):

1.     CFR Schemes are teams of volunteers ( you perhaps?) who will be the first at the scene of an incident involving cardiac concerns, slips and falls or worse, etc.

2.     Members are trained in first aid for medical  emergencies including the use of defibrillators, eg by SECamb in Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

3.     The member attends the incident with a huge red bag which includes an automated external defibrillator.

4.     The CFR Teams are recruited, equipped, trained and developed by the SECamb.

5.     it is known that the Kent's Snodland CFR Team has a support group known as "Friends of Snodland CFRs".

[Shortly after the SECamb ambulance arrives and you are whisked away to the hospital. On route you are wired up and biometric data is sent in advance of your arrival. Telemetry in medicine is gathering pace - in the form of "teleCare", "tele-Medicine", "m-Health". I am told that our local surgery can take photos of skin conditions and send them by the www to the consultant. The response might be: a) a prescription, b) book an appointment to travel to hospital or c) there is no problem. ] 
 

  At the moment Swanley has two individuals who are  CFRs and needs at least four more to form a "Swanley Team". More information is needed but it is believed that the following is likely to be fairly accurate:

• a CFR team which is big enough should be able to cover their community 24/7;
• CFRs go to a victim of cardiac arrest and other emergencies ahead of ambulance and emergency services;
• a CFR is a volunteer who works to shifts to cover their area;
• individuals cover about 4 square miles;
• each CFR needs to be "self-mobile" and be able to communicate with the emergency centre to receive information about emergency calls;.
  
  Does you community - town or village in Sevenoaks District - have the cover of a CFR Team????? 

 

As a non-expert (but learning fast) I have become interested in first aid in the community. If you ask an audiance of say, 50 typical folk of a village or town, eg WI, Active Retirement Association, if any of them have ever had first aid training, I bet at least half a dozen hand go up. Ask the next biggish group you are in! When you are next out shopping ask staff how many are so trained...?

My point is that most of us have had some kind of first aid but employers almost always have trained staff.

My next to last training in first aid was when my first grandchild was born. I went as the only male in a class of a dozen or so mums. We had about 3 hours of basic baby/toddler first aid! At least I learned something and felt I could cope...? Fortunatley I was never required to act on my training. More recently a friend showed me basic CPR or cardiopulonary resuscitation (using a dummy torso). 

Nowadays I would suggest that committees, trustees, etc, of voluntary community groups might like to develop a policy of calling for former first aiders to update in the basics. If there are no members or they are reluctant call for volunteers who could then be trained.

I know of one Active retirement association who have trained four members - for their meetings and outings. They are also intent on donatingan AED for a brand new village hall they will be using - AND want more training (defibrillator training)  so as to be able to use it. 

As to the cost..? Yes it may cost the voluntary body a few pounds but it may be available forbfree or for a non-commercial amount. If a village's voluntary bodies pooled resources and used an accredited training body it may be super-cost effective. If one life is saved or if over the months several members are protected from otherwise more severe injury what are a few pounds.

You have fallen and can't move. A passerby calls for the ambulance service. You expect wailing siren but a car stops nearby and a green uniformed women steps out and picks up a huge red bag.

You are lucky. You are in safe hands - your local Community First Responder has arrived. She introduces herself, asks your name, and begins to make you comfortable.  Before she has finished the ambulance arrives and your kind volunteer goes off to await her next call from the emergency call centre.  

She goes home and gets ready for her day job - as a CFR she was a fully trained volunteer. You are lucky in two respects. Firstly, she was on her shift and was able to respond accordingly. Secondly, the ambulance came within minutes anyway.

Some accident victims are unlucky in two ways. Firstly, sometimes a community is not covred by any CFR Scheme. Sceondly, the ambulance is on an other call and cannot get to you in less than an hour. 

I have just been chatting with Wendy who runs Chill4usCarers - you can find her useful website at http://chill4us.com Wendy says: "One of the biggest challenges facing a Carer today is a sense of isolation and social exclusion. Anyone can become a carer in an instant, nobody is immune, it’s not until it happens to YOU that caring for a sick or disabled loved one is understood and the everyday struggles a carer lives with 24/7, isolation and social exclusion is a big factor. Elderly citizens need care and respect but they don’t get it because they are classed as unprofitable. Yet they gave us the society we have today." Chill4usCarers is a friendly independent non profit voluntary organization with a constitution and committee, set up in 2002. It is Carers Week coming up soon - June 18 to 24, 2012. The theme for Carers Week in 2012 is ‘In sickness and in health’ recognising the strain families are under as they see services cut back. There are calls for better financial and practical support for the diverse range of people who have caring responsibilities. Carers Week is organised by a partnership of Age UK, Carers Trust, Carers UK, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, MS Society, and Parkinson’s UK. For more information please visit www.carersweek.org.