Outdoor First Aid Training, what we’ll be doing differently.
On the last weekend of May, 2022, we did our outdoor first aid training. We were trained by the fanTAStic Sarah Pestridge. of New Forest First Aid Training (back row left).
The curriculum is incredibly thorough and within 20 minutes of starting the course, it was clear that this qualification will add a serious amount of value to our rides.
To be clear, the reason why we booked in to do the course is because the qualification is needed to be able to book your MTB leader assessment. This course was not on our radar at all prior to the MTB training.
Along with the New Forest ride leaders, we trained along side Claire Sharpe, co founder of Routing For Ya, Bristol and the fabulous Roshana, Co Founder of Cycle Like a Girl, Bournemouth. It was great to share the experience with other people who are leading grass route communities and doing what they can to get people out on two wheels.
We thought it would be helpful to write down what we will be doing differently, post outdoor first aid training, to share with other off road communities.
All ride leaders to register their phones with 999.
We learnt that you can text 999 which could be useful if it’s really noisy in the forest or if you have patchy signal.
BAR ENDS ARE ESSENTIAL.
We learnt this on the MTB training too but once more for people at the back, all handle bars must have handle bar ends.
You should always be able to tell people exactly where you are in case of emergency. What three words, OS co ordinates, what ever floats your boat but we have an obligation, if we’re leading a ride off road, to be able to communicate with the emergency services, exactly where we are.
Be prepared for prolonged wait times. Along with the hazards and dangers of the great outdoors, we were trained in the importance of being prepared for prolonged wait times and how this is different to indoor environments. Pack the extra layer and always have an emergency blanket.
Know exactly where the defibs are. We can plan routes and then work out where the defibs are. We have never had this conversation before so this was a great outcome from the course. The Save a Life app is the best used for Hampshire.
It’s sexy to be prepared. Usually, we like to perpetrate the narrative that it’s cool to fly by the seat of ya pants. Riding 400 miles in Converse? Sure. Riding the TNR on 38mm tyres, you do you. But when it comes to safety, it’s sexy to be prepared.
Casualty Report Form. NFORC rides are social, not guided. Everyone has to be responsible for themselves and their decisions. That said, we are introducing the casualty report form so that we can demonstrate due diligence if some thing goes wrong on a ride and we have to call the emergency services. We have plans to make a sexy NFORC branded form but for now, here’s the one we got on the course.
You can read our updated “Ride Leader onboarding” doc here.
Right, that’s us. This is be no means a guide of how to make your rides safe, or what you should introduce. We hope you find it, if not helpful, then at least a handy list of discussion points for your group. And whilst we know it’s an investment, we can’t recommend the qualification enough for anyone leading rides off road. 10 out of 10.
To Sarah, our trainer, huge thanks for the glorious, calm, patient sharing of your expert wisdom and knowledge. You are an inspiration and we are all committed to making you proud should we ever find ourselves in the position to help others.
If you want to see video of us doing the course, check out this reel.
If any business or individual reading this would like to financially support future courses, please send us an email or you can donate via our website, on the home page.
Stay safe out there folks and see you in the forest.
