Training
Training and hands-on practice is vital. You can read all you want, and you can learn useful stuff, but it is the practical skills that matter.
Action Medic Training
There is more than one level of training. We will post details of trainings on this web page, and we announce them to the uk_medics_announce email list - subscribe here.
- A brief training for activists to be done at gatherings. Maybe 1 or 2 hours, covering looking after yourself and your mates, and recognising when you need higher level help.
- Basic training for any activist who would like to know more so they can look after themselves and their mates on actions (and other places). This would take a day (8 - 10 hours).
- In depth training for those wanting to be action medics. The course would be a few days - we can just about squash it into a weekend, including friday evening.
- A (maximum) one day top up for those who have done the First Aid at Work course. It would concentrate on action situations and CS gas and pepper spray.
Weekend Training Sessions
We have a number of 2 and a 1/2 day action medic trainings planned. This is the Street Medic training required to be a member of the Action Medics group (along with the other requirements). The usual structure is to start on the Friday evening around 7pm for 2 or 3 hours, 9am to 8pm Saturday and then 9am to 7pm Sunday.
What this course is and is not:
- This is a 24-hour street medic training. We will cover the majority of the basic information and skills you will need to provide first aid at protests and direct actions.
- This will not make you ready for anything. This course is a foundation in first aid and some practice. More diverse and deeper skill comes with time and practice as well as continuing education in health care. You are not a "real" medic until you are in the streets interacting with patients.
- One thing we do not teach is Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). CPR is a great and sometimes necessary skill. But we do not cover it here due to time constraints. You will have to find your own course.
- This is NOT a certificate course. You will receive no certifications or licenses of any kind. If you have a first aid certificate (such as First Aid at Work) this will not count as a refresher course (sorry).
| October 7/8/9 | Brighton |
| October 14/15/16 | Utrecht |
| October 27/28/29 | East Anglia (exact location tba) |
| November 3/4/5 | Bristol |
If you are interested in being trained, then please email training at actionmedics.org.uk . We will send you further details. We always try to arrange food and a place to stay over. If you are coming to a training then, if you can, bring
- Pen and paper for notes
- watch
- spare clothes and a waterproof top (you may get wet in the practice sessions, and we have some fake blood to use ...)
- any first aid kit you might have (but don't go and buy one if you haven't got one).
- money. (But don't worry about lack of money, just come along and get trained).
Deposits for Training
We have had quite a few courses where (next to) no one has turned up. So we have decided that we will require £5 deposits from participants to make sure people are serious about turning up to trainings. The deposits will not be returned to you if you simply don't turn up. We will require at least 5 people to have made a deposit to run a training. If less than 5 people make a deposit we will cancel the training (and return any deposits that have been paid).
The simplest way for us to get your deposit is to use Paypal. Click on the "Donate" button below and give us £5. If you would prefer to send a cheque (only to be cashed if you don't show), or to deposit in some other way then get in touch to arrange details - training at actionmedics.org.uk
Shorter Courses
We also do one day courses. There will be limited numbers for these courses, so please get in touch to book a place training at actionmedics.org.uk .
We are also happy to do sessions at events/gatherings/etc. If you are organising an event and would like some medical workshops then get in touch - training at actionmedics.org.uk
General First Aid Training
In the UK the standard is the HSE approved First Aid at Work certificate. This is a four day course and every workplace is meant to have a qualified first aider. So if you're working and keen, you may well be able to get your employer to train you up. Here are links to some training providers.
In addition, there is HeartStart - a two hour course to cover CPR. You can search for your nearest and there is a list of contact numbers for Scotland.
If you can't get to a training you can check out our basic guide and links to other guides.