THERE’S BEEN much talk recently of clamping down, for want of a better term, on rogue clampers.  Justifiably so.  Many are ruthless vultures preying on easy targets.  But what of the legitimate ones?  Do they deserve the opprobrium heaped upon their cowboy colleagues?

Of course not.  But that doesn’t mean they don’t get it.

I was clamped last week.  My own fault, entirely.  Returning after an absence of several years to a favourite meter-free enclave in Dublin city centre, I didn’t bother checking the signs before parking.  Assumption is a dangerous thing.

Arriving back hours later, I was greeted by the yellow jaws of doom enveloping my wheel.  Worse still, I was roundly scoffed at by a clump of taxi drivers gleefully pointing out the freshly-erected signs showing my secret oasis had been turned into a rank.

After I phoned in a payment of €80, a pair of clampers arrived to free me.  One approached with the trepidation of a farmer checking on a wounded bull.

His face contorted into confusion as I greeted him with a cheery wave and an admission of my stupidity.  To confuse him even further, I motioned to him as he drove off that he had forgotten to switch on his van’s headlights.  Poor man nearly crashed.

His reaction saddened me.  He had evidently been conditioned by past experience to expect the worst.  Abuse, threats, even violence.  And him just a bloke doing his best to make ends meet.

So a plea to all motorists.  Be nice to legitimate clampers, for they are entitled to our support and respect.

They provide a valuable service to society by keeping roads clear, nabbing moral midgets who park illegally in disabled spaces and teaching idiots like me valuable lessons about making assumptions.

But most importantly of all, they give miserable taxi drivers something to smile about.

Suzi says: So perhaps, the Govenment ought to take heed and realise that there are many professional companies who do actually provide a necessary service to land owners who have no other recourse.  And, perhaps they ought to remember, that it’s only those who have been clamped who complain about it …… not those who take the time to read the signs, pay for our parking and not generally abuse or ignore the land owners rights!

Pingle School pupil Tom Causer, 14, used first aid techniques he had learned only two weeks earlier after finding a friend struggling down an alleyway.

He checked her breathing, cleared her airway and put her in the recovery position until the paramedics arrived. The girl later regained consciousness and is now fully recovered.

School business manager Martin Walton said: “We are all very, very proud of Tom.

“We are delighted with the way he conducted himself, he acted very responsibly and did not panic.

“He has taken it in his stride and until we all read it in the paper no-one at the school actually knew what he had done.

“What makes it more satisfying is that he has used and implemented skills that he learned at school.

“He was originally identified as one of 10 children to take part in a special project, with part of this being the first aid training.

“We would just like to reiterate how pleased we are for Tom and that everyone at the school is extremely proud of what he has done.” Tom’s Head of Year, Dan Brown, added: “We are all delighted with what Tom has done and it has shown that after being shown support he has excelled.

“To put this into perspective, I have GCSE students who have to do similar first aid as part of their studies and they all failed the practical part of the exam – it really reinforces what Tom has done.

“He didn’t panic, kept a cool head and saved that girl’s life — he should be extremely pleased with what he did and with how far he has come in the last few months.” The incident happened whilst Tom was having a barbecue with friends in Midway when two of the group left to buy some alcohol.

When the pair failed to return, Tom and his friends went looking for them and spotted them in trouble in an alleyway off Shelley Road.

Suzi says: This just confirms my belief that all children should be taught first aid in schools.  What a little hero, I hope he receives an award.  Perhaps the school should introduce some alcohol awareness courses too for the unfortunate casualty!   beSmart Training offer a suite of BIIAB licensing courses and first aid courses.  Check out our website at www.besmart-training.co.uk for more details.

Quick-thinking Milly Cadman sprang into action and used the Heimlich manouevre on 9-year-old brother Max, as he choked during a family meal on Monday night.

Just three weeks earlier Milly, a Year 6 pupil at St Aiden’s C of E Primary School, Billinge, attended a day-long first aid course.

The youngster was taught how to perform various first aid techniques including the Heimlich manoeuvre and CPR.

Headteacher Melanie Ravenscroft said: “We’re all so proud of Milly, and it just shows how valuable basic first aid skills can be.

“She was absolutely brilliant and didn’t panic at all, and instantly delivered the vital first aid which Max needed.

“I’m quite sure that Milly’s quick reactions saved Max’s life.

“Thank goodness she had received the first aid training.”

Read the rest of the article here…

Source: Click Lancashire

The BII has started the nationwide search for the 2010 BII Licensee of the Year. 

Judges are looking for individuals or partnerships who make the best of the resources they have available.

They could be running a community pub, a village local or a high-street bar and be able to demonstrate great business ability and a passion for the trade.
The winner will be announced at the BII’s annual lunch in May. The award absolutely epitomises everything that BII stands for – excellence, professionalism, standards, best practice.

The current holder of the title Philip Davison, licensee at the Sun in the Wood, Newbury, Berkshire, said: “To win such a prestigious award is amazing, but even if you’re not fortunate enough get through to the final stages, just entering will make you revalue your business, look at how you do things and certainly improve your profit.”

To enter online visit www.bii.org for more information call Joanna Buston on 01276 417802 or email joannab@bii.org .

You can watch a video of the history of the awards and apply here: http://bii.bii.org/events/awards/2010loya , the closing date for entries is Friday February 15 2010.

Suzi Says…

It’s always great when licencees get the recognition they deserve.

 The judging for the BII awards are notoriously rigourous. I imagine that they check that everything is in order, from up-to-date staff training, to good standards of health and safety, to keeping customers safe and well looked after. Philip makes the point that “just entering makes revalue your business”.

My tip would be that it’s always a good idea to double-check that your licenses and training are up-to-date. For example, have you checked how the changes to the HSE First Aid regulations will affect business? Are your door supervisors fully licensed?

Attending training can help you to update your skills as well as chat to fellow licensees and share ideas and inspiration. 

If you are a licensee currently looking to enter the BII Licensee of the Year Awards, or a first time publican in need of some NCPLH, First Aid or conflict management training, call us today 020 7237 6007 for our immediate attention.

Good Luck to anyone who is applying!

The Scout Association has presented the award to just 12 Scouts who have saved people’s lives across Britain, including 15-year-old Joseph Slade, a pupil at Didcot’s St Birinus School.

When Joseph’s father Jon, 44, started choking on crackling from a hog roast at a party in Sutton Courtenay, his son leaped to the rescue and performed the Heimlich manoeuvre to dislodge it.

Joseph, of Bear Lane, North Moreton, said: “It was all quite fast. He was trying to signal people to do it, but people thought he was joking.

“I just got up behind him, put my arms just under his ribcage, and squeezed a couple of times. It came shooting out, and he just leant over on the ground and I kept hitting his back.”

He added: “It’s one of those things you hear about and see on TV. You never think you’re going to have to use first aid, but you do.”

The split-second intervention and calm thinking came after years of first aid training at Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, of which Joseph has been a member since the age of six. He currently is an Explorer Scout with the 1st Clifton Hampden and Burcot Sea Scouts.

The Chief Scout, explorer Bear Grylls, said: “Joseph has shown great bravery, and his act is an inspiration to many.

“I’m so proud that when it mattered, he showed great Scouting spirit.”

Joseph’s mother Annetta, 40, said: “We’re so proud of him. Jon was really choking. He couldn’t talk, he couldn’t communicate, he couldn’t breathe.

“He tapped one guy in front of him, but he thought he was joking. Joseph just got up and sorted him out.”

Other recipients of the award included a 13-year-old who needed hospital treatment after rescuing a friend who had fallen through a frozen lake, and a 17-year-old who paddled out to sea on a body board to rescue a drowning fisherman.

Source: Oxford Mail

Val Laing was working a normal shift in Marks & Spencer’s when a 75-year-old man collapsed in the food hall.

But when the 47-year-old, from Thornbury, rushed to help, she realised his heart had stopped. Val, who had volunteered to be a trained first aider at the store, immediately began chest compressions and gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until he gasped for breath about five minutes later.

She kept him calm with the help of another nurse who was passing by until paramedics arrived on the scene. He was taken to British Royal Infirmary by ambulance where he had an emergency operation and he is now reported to be on the mend.

Val, a former army nurse, said: “It was about 4pm and I was in the food hall. There is a few of us first aiders in the store. We carry mobiles around with us just in case. It is usually just a minor injury – like a cut finger.

“I got a call on my mobile saying someone had collapsed, so I picked up my first aid bag and went over to where he had fallen.

“There were a few people crowded round him. He was slumped down and totally purple. Another first aider was with me and I told her to dial 999 because he wasn’t breathing.

“When she got through, I had already started CPR and was giving him mouth-to-mouth and 30 chest compressions.”

Mrs Laing said she just focused on reviving the pensioner who had gone into cardiac arrest.

“I just knew I had to do something before it was too late,” she explained. “I was on my second round of CPR when he gasped for breath. A trained nurse was there and she helped me keep him calm because he started fighting back. She monitored his pulse while we waited for oxygen. After the ambulance arrived, I carried on working. Staff were coming up to me afterwards saying ‘I don’t know how you did it!’”

Store manager Simon Lucas said: “It’s important to Marks and Spencer that we have first aiders in the store. “We were pleased to be able to help and wish our customer a full and speedy recovery.”

Cribbs Causeway spokesman Sarah King added: “We have 28 trained first aiders in The Mall but stores like M&S have their own staff.

Read the rest of the article here.

Source: This is Bristol

Marie Vaillant and chef Patrick Beck, of the Griffin Hotel, Toddington, Bedfordshire worked together to remove a piece a gammon which had become lodged in the woman’s throat.

Patrick performed the Heimlich manoeuvre on the customer 10 times, until eventually Marie lifted out the two centimetre piece of meat.

Marie, a tenant at the Greene King pub, said: “It was really lucky that Patrick was here. He just jumped in and used his first aid skills to save the woman.
“She was quite frail, and had turned blue from lack of oxygen, so we had to be careful not to bruise her.”

Marie, who is also trained in first aid, added: “The ambulance service came within five minutes, I was really impressed. But luckily the woman did not even have to go to hospital. She was quite embarrassed though.”
Just two days after the incident Marie and Patrick both received commendations from the ambulance service for their actions.

Gary Sanderson, a spokesman for the ambulance service, said: “The quick thinking and rapid interventions by Marie and Patrick has no doubt saved this woman’s life. They must be very proud of themselves – well done.”

Source: The Publican

Suzi Says…

There is no doubt about it, First Aiders save lives. As this story prooves, it’s not just Fonr-of-House staff that it is important to train. Any employees can be called upon to help a customer with any number of problems.

Ensure that your staff are ready, trained and confident in what to do. Call us for First Aid training 020 7237 6007.

Mrs Evans was sitting enjoying a cup of coffee when she had a bad heart attack.

It had been 11 years since her husband Glynn had done his last first aid course, but everything he had learned came right back to him.

He said: “I could see she wasn’t breathing and there was no pulse, and I phoned for an ambulance and a doctor. Our youngest son Aaron, who was at home, helped me lift Patsy on to the floor and I started CPR.”

Mr Evans added: “I did not have to think, I just knew what to do.”

Glynn worked for seven or eight minutes to get Patsy breathing, Patsy was then airlifted to hospital in Brighton where she had surgery.

Mrs Evans made a rapid recovery and in less than three months was back at her cleaning job.

The postman at Haslemere says he recommends anyone who gets the chance to do a first aid course.

“Doing CPR is something I have never forgotten. I know you think you will never need it, especially in your own home.

But it saved Patsy’s life. There is no way she would have come back without it.”

Like Mr Evans says, First Aid training is a skill that can save lives as well as be a great asset to a CV when applying for jobs.

Here at BeSmart Training we offer First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work courses, for information on these please visit the website.

Investigators from the SIA and officers from Humberside Police ran random compliance checks at 15 bars and clubs in the town centres.

SIA Head of Investigation Nigel Davis said: “This exercise follows on from work carried out earlier this year testing compliance with SIA licensing regulations so I am pleased with the results.”

He added: “Grimsby and Cleethorpes attract a high number of holiday makers and weekend trippers so with the summer holidays approaching, we want to ensure that individuals working in positions of trust are doing so legally and hold SIA licences.”

Inspector Tom Shaw said: “We work in close partnership with local door staff as they are integral to a safe night time economy for our community.”

As the SIA head of investigation says above, it is very important that as we approach the Summer season all door supervisors are fully licensed to ensure a safe and enjoyable nightlife.

Here at BeSmart we provide Door Supervisor Training, for more information on this and our other security courses please visit the website.

BeSmart currently have a special offer on our Door Supervisor course, please click here for more details.

Officers will be out in force throughout the campaign, targeting motorists who get behind the wheel while over the limit.

By using an increased number of checks and special operations, the campaign is aiming to instill the message to motorists to think twice before drinking and driving.

Chief Inspector Chris Markey said: “Our message is simple, if you don’t want to be caught drink driving, don’t drink and drive. People who drink while over the limit will be caught and dealt with accordingly.

“Drink driving is a serious offence that devastates lives and Merseyside Police Officers are here in force to stamp it out. Drink drivers face a driving ban of at least 12 months, along with a fine of up to £5000 and a possible prison sentence.”

It is also so important that those who are retailing alcohol are fully licensed, particularly as the sales of alcohol rises in the summer months.

Visit the beSmart website for all the details on our Alcohol Licensing courses.