Conifer Lodge recently held an emergency preparedness session for the individuals we support. Staff decided to undertake the session to highlight the importance of knowing how to respond to various emergencies.

Given that some of individuals we support go on home leave without staff support and others go out with just one staff member, they were keen to be equipped with the proper knowledge.

The session began by asking everyone to define what constitutes an emergency. They clearly understood the concept, discussing scenarios like witnessing someone experiencing an electric shock.

The individuals we support confidently said they would avoid approaching someone if they saw wires or cables on the ground. Next, staff explored what the they would do if they were out for a walk and witnessed a staff member or another or an individual we support collapse.

Many indicated they would call for help by shouting or knocking on a nearby house. The session continued with hands-on training, where the individuals we support learned how to check for breathing and practised placing someone in the recovery position.

Each individual had the opportunity to participate, for example, in how to perform CPR until professional help arrived.

The individuals we support who could not get on the floor engaged in tabletop CPR exercises, demonstrating their commitment to learning new skills.

Additionally, staff briefed each individual on using the Conifer Lodge emergency call system. One individual proudly mentioned their emergency call system, emphasising their ability to seek help. By the end of the session, the staff at Conifer Lodge felt confident that the the individuals we support understood how to respond to various emergencies and were empowered to act effectively in times of crisis.

Conifer Lodge is our adult learning disabilities service in Cambridgeshire. To learn more about the service, click here.