Click on the buttons below to navigate through our new training resources. 

Scroll down the page for information about:

• First aid training

• Venture route planning

• Jump directly to Our routes page to see where you may end up using your training

We provide regular venture training sessions but you should use these pages to develop your skills further.  These pages are aimed at Bronze Award participants, please discuss the extra skills you will need at Silver and Gold level with your instructor.

Content on each training button is listed below.

The training syllabus for Bronze ventures, Silver ventures and modes of travel (other than walking) are available from the DofE website.

First Aid Overview.

 All participants must have some basic first aid training.  If you have received any first aid certificates through Scouts or Cadets, St John’s Ambulance or a skills section like Rookie Lifesaving then please bring a copy of your certificate to school.

 You MUST carry a first aid kit with you on expedition. Typical contents will include triangular bandage (as a sling), wound dressing (to stop bleeding), plasters (for those pesky blisters), possibly a ‘cool pack’ for sprains and feminine hygiene products.  Remember medications MUST NEVER be shared - this includes paracetamol, sun screen etc as well as personal meds like asthma inhalers.

 If any one in your group has a medical need such as asthma or allergies it is important that the whole group is aware of the condition and any medications required. 

 Watch other members of the group for signs of heat exhaustion.  Seek shelter and assistance if required.  Keep drinking water and avoid dehydration.

Key messages.

If in doubt, then seek assistance immediately.

Never put yourself in danger.

Just do your best. You are not expected to perform miracles.

under construction

First aid training. 

Blisters.

 You should be able to deal with these yourselves.  If in doubt you should stop and check your feet.  Common symptoms include a warm feeling or mild discomfort to one part of the foot.  STOP AND CHECK!

 The best solution is to get a bandage on the affected area as soon as possible - don't wait for the blister to start.  NEVER POP a blister.

Burns.

 PREVENTION IS THE BEST MEDICINE.

Where is the nearest fire extinguisher?  What type is it?  What fires can this be used on?  Do you know how to operate it?  When should an extinguisher NOT be used?

HOT       WET       SUN       FRICTION 

.....

What makes sunburns worse?

Slightly overcast days are a problem because you forget to apply your sun screen	If you are working on or near snow or water, then reflections can increase your exposure.	On windy days you may feel cooler, but the sun can be brighter than you think.

 ANY BURN THAT PENETRATES THE SKIN SHOULD BE SEEN BY A DOCTOR.

Dehydration and heat stroke.

 This is the most common problem, other than blisters.  YOU MUST DRINK!

 Symptoms.  ........

 We will get you up early on winter ventures so that you can finish before we start loosing the light and in summer so that you can do the majority of your walking before it gets too hot.

 If you are on-time and on-route then have a rest when you find some shade at about 2pm when it is hottest.  fi in doubt take a breathr and DRINK MORE WATER.  You should be drinking 1.5 - 2 litres of water on an ordinary day let-alone when you are pegging up and down hills with a 50 litre rucksack.

 Use your check point cards to request water, if you need it, we wil try to find you.  An advantage of staying on time is that we knwo where to expect you and can lie-in-wait with extra water.

Strains and sprains. 

R. =  Rest.  Stop!  See if a bit of rest and elevation will ease any discomfort and then continue if possible.

I.  = Ice.   Anything cooling will help to reduce the swelling.  Staff will have ice packs, but don't use these for more than 10 minutes.

C.  = Compression.  Apply a tight bandage to control swelling.  Use your common sense and don't make the bandage so tight that it hurts or compromises the circulation.

E. = Elevation.  Raise and support the affected limb.

Try to move the casualty if possible to a shelterd location where your supervisor can reach you more easily.  You won't all fail the venture if one memeber has to get help or to withdraw with a genuine injury.  Ask for help if you need it.  All we expect is that you have used your procedures to evaluate the situation sensibly.

Using a triangular bandage.  Any piece of material, e.g. a Tshirt or your washing up cloth, can be used to support a sprained or injured arm.  Talk to the patient to find a comfortable position for the limb and support it in that position.

More serious stuff

C.P.R. ('the kiss of life').

D. = Danger

R. =  Response

A. = Airway

B. = Breathing

C. = Circulation

Recovery position.  IF a patient is breathing BUT unconsious you should use the recovery position to make them comfortable or to protect their airway if you must leave them to go for help.  Remember that you should avoid moving a patient that you suspect may have injured their neck or spine.

Shock.  Keeping talking to any patient.  Be prepared to tel the emergency servives if (and how long) a patient has been unconscious, disorientated or confused.

 Bleeding.

 Apply pressure immediately unless there is an obstrcution in the wound.  DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING from a wound.  Phone your supervisor NOW!  If the bleeding in more serious than oozing or continues for any period of time - call 999.

 DO NOT USE ANY FORM OF TORNIQUET - use direct pressure and elevate the affected area if possible. The casualty should be seated or lie down if possible so that the injury is above the heart.

 Broken bones.

 Phone your supervisor NOW!  Unless there are complications like bleeding or compromised circulation then it is probably easiest for your supervisor to get the casualty to a road rather than call an ambulance immediately.  HOWEVER you are the ones on the scene so you decide what is appropriate. - don't forget to call your staff as well, as we do need to know!

If you are in any doubt follow a few simple rules.

a.  Do not put yourself in danger.  There is no point in creating even more casualties.

b.  Phone for help.  The ambulance service will stay on the line and talk you through any problems.

c.  Talk to the casualty.  You can check if they are loosing conciousness.  It also tells the casulaty and observers what you are doing.

d.  Monitor the casualty's breathing.  If you suspect damage to their neck or back then don't move them, and help keep their neck steady.  Do not remove a motor cycle helmet.

e.  Put pressure on any major bleeding.  Look out for any projecting bones or foreign objects - do not remove them and protect the area ebfore applying pressure around the wound.  If the dressing is soaked with blood put another one on top, do not take the first one off.

Practice makes perfect

Do not forget to practice reading grid references and describing your location by using features around youin landscape.  Ambulance response times are much lower in rural areas and a crew may have come from many miles away.

Having got you all worried, you will probably only need to deal with a couple of blisters!

Route Plans

Why do you need to plan your route?

• So you see the things that you need to produce your purpose work.
• To get familair with the area, so you don't get lost too much.
• Survival - if you loose your map then this paperwork should be adequate to get you home.
• Rescue - we (or the ambulance service) need to be able to find you.

So what do you do when preparing your route?

• Decide on WHY you are travelling.  This is your purpose work and greater research means that you travel less distance.  The minimum travelling is 3 hours which is arounf 9 k.m.
• Prepare a map tracing on acetate.          Click here for examples.
• Prepare a route plan on the proforma.

What is a leg?

A leg is a convenient section of your route which can be described in the route plan.  About 1.5 - 2.5 k.m. between a pair of obvious footpath junctions, turns or points of interest is often used.  HOWEVER, in a complicated part of the map it could be shorter.

What is a check point?

A check point is a location that your supervisor or assessor will ask to meet you.  This will often be at the end of a leg but could be anywhere that we know we can reach by vehicle.  If you do not see us at a check point then you must leave a check point card.

Nasmith's rule.

Sorry, here is some maths!  Your walking pace should be about 3 k.m. per hour. which means:

• 1 k.m. should be covered every 20 minutes.
• 100 metres should take you 2 minutes.  How many paces does it take you to cover 100m?

You add 1 minute for every 10 metres you climb during a leg.  For some reason you don't add time for coming downhill.

Don't forget to include time for breaks and your purpose work.  We need an accurate estimate of how long each leg will take so that we can guess where to start looking for you if you disappear! 

Be prepared - Emergency Procedures

Route cards and tracings. 

Equipment.

Check points.

Phones.

Dealing with the public.