Public Hearts - Tidal Training Direct | Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud

Tidal

Public Hearts Defibrillator Campaign

As a first aid training and education provider, teaching learners about how to respond to a cardiac arrest is an essential part of all first aid training course content. This includes the safe use of an AED – an Automated External Defibrillator, referred to as a defibrillator or defib for short.

Tidal Training Direct Ltd. started to run an open course to support staff from businesses in and around Cheltenham and Gloucestershire in May 2017. Naturally one of the questions our learners asked during training about the safe use of an AED is “where is my nearest defibrillator?

This marked the start of the Cheltenham Defibrillator Campaign, now known as Public Hearts Cheltenham. Co-Founders Clare Seed, Director of Tidal Training Direct Ltd and cardiac arrest survivor Chris Hickey began to raise awareness and numbers of lifesaving defibrillators in Cheltenham, to ensure that the Emergency Services know about their locations to be able to direct callers to the nearest defib in the event of a cardiac arrest.

Upon research at this time, there were (and still are) very few defibs registered on information sites such as AED Locator. Two Public Access Defibrillators in the Montpellier area of Cheltenham were clearly housed in phone boxes, yet were not listed on these sources of information.

Since then, we are delighted to support Cheltenham town centre’s first Public Access Defibrillator in one of the phone boxes by RBS, The Promenade.

This was generously funded by Cheltenham BID and has been used to save lives.

We have also placed a defib in Moon Under Water at the bottom of Bath Rd, co-founded one for the United Services Club and part funded one for Holy Trinity School to support a child with a congenital heart condition.

Our goal is to facilitate a series of public access defibrillators along Cheltenham High Street (ideally every 200 metres) to benefit the local and visiting community (which can add up to some 250,000 during race week)

In early August 2021, Bob Holt OBE and Mike Turl each generously donated a defibrillator with a view to having them placed in the community to support this essential campaign.

David Jones, MD of Evans Jones as planning professionals are kindly working on a pro-bono basis to engage with the local business community and identify potential locations for Public Access Defibrillators.

We have now identified and located over 50 defibrillators in and around Cheltenham, and prior to Covid, we shared this information with South West Ambulance Service Foundation Trust (SWASFT). SWASFT have passed this information to The Circuit – The National Defibrillator Network

Currently, each of the 14 ambulance services across the UK have their own defibrillator database for their area. The Circuit brings this information together into one database.

When a defibrillator is registered on The Circuit, their location and status is instantly synchronised with the emergency services’ systems ensuring that their information is always up to date and ready to help save lives.

If you have a defibrillator, you can register it here with The Circuit so 999 ambulance services can direct callers to the nearest unit in the event of a cardiac arrest.

This is vital when moments matter in the chain of survival.

We’re delighted The Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce is supporting the Campaign

Read more here

If you are a town centre business in a high foot traffic location and would like to house a Public Access Defibrillator on the outside of your building, we are about to receive defibrillators generously donated by Spirax Sarco looking for a home.

Please get in touch on 01242 371 999 to find out more.

Public Hearts actions include local business engagement, collection tins in over 30 town centre pubs/bars (hence the Pub in Public Hearts) to fund for defibrillators in pubs in strategic locations. Moon Under Water on Bath Rd was the first pub to receive a defib through donations – https://cheltenhambid.co.uk/bid-backing-defib-campaign/

Public Hearts Cheltenham Founders Clare and cardiac arrest survivor Chris Hickey work in collaboration with Cheltenham Licensing Division Gloucestershire Police (hence the LIC in Public Hearts) the team at Cheltenham BID, Community Responders at South West Ambulance Service Foundation Trust (SWASFT) and defib supplier Andrew Deptford of AA Defib Ltd.

Evans Jones kindly provide pro bono planning guidance.

Currently, Cheltenham’s first and only Cheltenham town centre Public Access Defibrillator is on The Prom in a phone box outside RBS generously funded by Cheltenham BID. A 24 hour Public Access Defibrillator is the most visible, accessible and beneficial, increasing the chances of survival by up to 80% so they are vital pieces of kit in the event of a cardiac arrest.

We are committed to raise awareness and numbers of Public Access Defibrillators in Cheltenham.

Did you know...

More than 3,600 people are resuscitated by ambulance staff every year in the South West because they suffer a pre-hospital cardiac arrest. For every minute that passes once in cardiac arrest, a person loses a further 10% chance of survival, and with this dramatic loss in chance of survival, there is a need of a defibrillator every 4-5 minutes walk. Without doubt this availability would improve cardiac arrest survival rates throughout the South West.”

You are welcome to support us through The Cheltenham Good Causes Lottery, a weekly lottery that raising money for good causes in Cheltenham. Tickets for the lottery will cost £1 and each ticket will have a 1 in 50 chance to win a prize, with a top prize of £25,000.

50% of the ticket price comes to Public Hearts Cheltenham and 10% goes to No Child Left Behind Cheltenham.

Buy tickets here and good luck – for a great cause

Read more about Public Hearts on our blog page

Are you looking for a place on our Cheltenham monthly open course in Qualsafe Awards Level 3 Emergency First at Work (RQF)?

Find Out More

For more information, please call our information and booking lines: 01242 371 999 & 799

Many thanks for an enjoyable and informative Emergency First Aid at Work course yesterday; David did a great job in delivering the course, which Tidal organised really well. It certainly refreshed a lot of what I had forgotten over the past 20 years (!) and I feel more knowledgeable and confident that I’ll now be able to do my best in an emergency situation. I’m sure the rest of the Porge team will find the course useful over the next few months

Lesley Eaton Porge Research |EFAW 19th July 2017

FAQ

Commonly and Frequently asked First Aid Questions

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. These Regulations apply to all workplaces including those with less than five employees and to the self-employed. What is ‘adequate and appropriate’ will depend on the circumstances in the workplace. This includes whether trained first-aiders are needed, what should be included in a first-aid box and if a first-aid room is required. Employers should carry out an assessment of first-aid needs to determine what to provide.

Employers are required to carry out an assessment of first-aid needs. This involves consideration of workplace hazards and risks, the size of the organisation and other relevant factors, to determine what first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel should be provided. Tidal Training Direct have a free workplace First Aid calculator to support businesses with this.

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) training course content includes Role and responsibilities of first aider: Role, responsibilities, infection control, consent, first aid equipment, incident reporting. Incident and casualty assessment: Scene survey, primary survey, calling for help/information needed. CPR and AED: Unresponsive casualty not breathing normally. Unconscious casualty breathing normally: Recovery position Management of a seizure. Choking casualty: Recognition and treatment. Shock: Types, recognition and treatment. External bleeding: Types and treatment Minor injuries: Small cuts, grazes, bumps and bruises, small splinters, minor burns & scalds and nosebleeds. An optional inclusion of catastrophic bleeding. Practical assessments and a multiple-choice question paper. First Aid at Work (FAW) training course content includes all of this content on Day 1 and more serious accidents, injuries and emergencies over the following 2 days.

Not if the practical assessments and multi choice paper are not done face to face in a classroom environment to support quality standards. Under Department for Education, Ofqual and Awarding Body requirements, first aid can not be done completely online. The practical assessments and multiple choice paper can only be completed face to face . It is not possible to learn how to perform CPR, how to use a defibrillator, treat a choking casualty, the recovery position and how to perform a primary survey by watching it online. They are practical skills and need to be learnt and practiced with the guidance of a trained and qualified professional trainer. It is possible to offer the theory elements through a blended approach, however it is always better to be taught face to face where possible. To support workplaces during coronavirus (Covid-19) it is possible to deliver up to a third of course content online such as via interactive webinar. For an EFAW this is up to 2 hours of theory content.

To give first aid treatment to someone in the event of an accident, injury or accident until the Emergency Services arrive (if required) It is a workplace requirement for employers to ensure that staff have access to adequate first aid provision.

First Aid at Work training is a minimum of 18 guided learning hours, usually delivered over 3 days. Emergency First Aid at Work is 6 guided learning hours, usually delivered over 1 day. Deciding on which training course is appropriate is met through a workplace risk assessment.

Costs vary widely. For a Tidal Training Direct open course in Qualsafe Awards Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF) it's priced per delegate at £99 including Ofqual regulated certification which is valid for 3 years. For group courses to businesses, the cost is £550 -£650 per training day, depending on individual businesses' training needs. It is so important to choose a trusted training provider with a solid reputation and all the required quality assurance to support businesses in meeting their HSE workplace Health and Safety requirements.

Level 3 is the level of qualification within the Regulatory Qualifications Framework as set out by Ofqual and the Department of Education. A Level 3 First Aid qualification can only be delivered through a training centre and its Awarding Body. First Aid at Work is delivered over a minimum of 18 guided learning hours, typically over 3 days. It supports higher risk business environments as outlined in a workplace risk assessment.

Basic first aid is a shortened version of emergency first aid and does not include all the content as specified by The Resuscitation Council and Ofqual. It is generally not suitable for workplaces and is commonly a Level 2 qualification.

To preserve life, to prevent the situation from becoming worse and to promote recovery.

To preserve life, to prevent illness the situation from becoming worse, to promote recovery and to protect the unconscious.

This stands for Airways, Breathing and Circulation. The most accurate acronym is DRABC Danger Response Airways Breathing Circulation. In the event of catastrophic bleeding, this can be prioritised before Airway.

By attending a recognised and accredited First Aid training course, either an open course or on a group basis. A qualification can only be gained through an accredited training provider and its Awarding Body, regulated by Ofqual.

First Aid qualifications are valid for 3 years, with an annual refresher recommended to maintain skills and knowledge. For EFAW learners need to attend a Qualsafe Awards Level 3 Award in Emergency First at Work. For First at Work (FAW) it is possible to attend a 2 day re-qualification course, within a specified period of the existing certificate being valid. To support workplaces during coronavirus (Covid-19) individuals holding a valid certificate in Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work on or before 16th March 2020 has a qualification extension from the Health and Safety Executive to the 30th September 2020. This is subject to not being able to refresh your qualification.

One which is delivered face to face or via a blended learning approach by a teacher trained qualified professional and a trusted business with all the required quality assurance in place and accredited through Ofqual.

Yes. It is a nationally recognised qualification. Learners must meet the required standard assessed through practical work and a multi-choice paper.

Yes, very much so. Gone are the days when training is seen as a ‘tick-box’ exercise. While the qualification is important, the learning of first aid skills and knowledge can make a great difference to act promptly and confidently in a workplace accident, injury or emergency. First aid is a universal life skill that could save some-one elses.

Please use our chat if you still have a question

01242 371 999

01242 371 799

With over 120 5-star Facebook and Google recommendations, we take great pride in delivering first aid training courses.

Customer Reviews

  Brilliant course! Amazing to be able to practice CPR with a live link to assessment software. Now I know my skills are going to be effective if ever needed. Very reassuring to have my own CPR dummy for the duration of the course, and super confident of the safety protocols that Clare and the Tidal team have in place.

Joanne O'Hagan
24 August 2021

  Great course and instructor, well paced and good level of detail.

Duku Design
24 August 2021

  A genuinely lovely company. Very concerned for their clients' happiness and satisfaction. Very professional and organised everything beautifully. The trainers were AMAZING. Really bright and knowledgeable, able to respond to questions, kind, funny, friendly and approachable. Training can sometimes feel only partially useful, but this all felt like things we needed and would use, presented thoughtfully and clearly by brilliant trainers. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend Tidal and will certainly use them again. Thank you!

Rosie Radford
17 November 2021
  After attending this first aid training I was impressed with the amount of information that was covered in the day as well as being taught in such an engaging manor so the information was retained well. I especially liked that the trainer for the course was an active Paramedic and was able to relate the first aid training to real life scenarios and experiences and share stories which kept the course interesting and gave character to the course. Overall an enjoyable training course which has left me feeling confident in providing many forms of first aid, highly recommended.

Peter O'Connell
24 October 2021

  Fantastic courses, super friendly and helpful staff and owners. We wouldn't go anywhere else for our emergency first aid at work training.

Chloe Pinchin
24 October 2021

  Had a first aid at work training with Tidal and it was a great experience overall. The teacher was clear and very knowledgeable, the class went at a really good pace there was plenty of time to ask questions when needed yet the day went by very quickly!

Paolo Nicosia
24 October 2021
  BeSocial@theCentre have been using Tidal Training for our staff training needs for a couple of years now and we could not be more pleased with the service and quality of training that they provide. When we contact the office, the staff we speak to are very friendly and helpful – every query or issue we have is always dealt with professionally and efficiently – 100 % customer service satisfaction! The ‘Trainers’ who we have had the pleasure of meeting, either face-to-face or online, have always been fantastic. Very clear in their presentation, knowledgeable in their subject and have made learning enjoyable. Sitting through a dull training session certainly is not on the agenda with Tidal Training! The flexibility and understanding, that BeSocial@theCentre have experienced with Tidal Training during recent months, due to a change in Centre staff and then COVID-19 pressures, has be second to none. Both Clare and Colin have been fantastic in changing dates and fitting our staff members in to different sessions to fit our requirements – We can not thank them enough for their patience with us. Thank you to the whole team at Tidal Training – We will see you at our next session!

sarah hartley
17 November 2021

  Wonderful training day, I now feel so much more confident in delivering First Aid thanks to Tidal Training Direct. I hope I don't need to use my skills but I am pleased I have the confidence and vital knowledge available to help save someone's life.

Jake Pearson
24 August 2021

  I attended my first course yesterday and what a wonderfully empowering experience it was. The highly trained paramedic teaching put us at ease straight away and I am looking forward to learning more of these invaluable skills. Lovely staff and great communication too. I will be recommending these courses to everyone - thank you.

Jules Cornelius
24 October 2021