Fears or phobias are often quite irrational in nature. The fear of drowning, for me is right up there with my biggest fears. I guess it became worse when I had to read about the pathology of drowning for a course I had to complete and now teach on.  However, I recently got to revisit my fear from the comfort of my sofa via the internet! 

An amazing interactive video made for a French outdoor clothing company (Guy Cotten) highlights what it is like to become stranded in open water and what happens to you over a shockingly short time.  It is filmed from a first persons point of view and is incredibly vivid.  If you stay afloat long enough (!) there is a scene that is most definitely not for the faint hearted, you have been warned!  

You will never go on a boat again without a lifejacket after taking part in this interactive video. Link below. I have also added a link to a video preview for those who are too afraid to actually try the actual video :-)

Lifejackets can make all the difference; once you have the person out of the water, it goes back to the good old basic life support and ABC principle that is so easy and so essential to learn.  Care for the submersed/drowned individual is discussed in the 'Bumps and Bruises Course' on offer from Resus Andy - Life Support Tuition contact us for details

Video preview http://youtu.be/GT-GPmX60GA

Link to interactive video "Sorti en Mer" (A trip to sea) http://sortieenmer.com

Vaccination, vaccine and inoculation. All words that cause a furore in parenting and medical circles.

During my career I have bore witness to children who are suffering from vaccine preventable diseases such as measles and chicken pox and believe me when I say that these diseases are not something to be dismissed as a nasty rash and itchy sores. These diseases can and have killed children and continue to do so. These diseases are preventable and in this day and age. We shouldn't be witness to suffering these diseases can cause.

Below is a link to an article written by Dr Jennifer Raff about childhood vaccinations. I urge you all to read it and share this amongst your friends and family.

The article is hosted on the a rather fruitfully named, yet reputable website so I do apologies in advance for the profanity of the websites name once you have clicked the link...

http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/dear-parents-you-are-being-lied

It's been ever so quiet at Resus Andy HQ of late. Why? Well My wife and I have moved out of London to the greener, calmer climes of Market Harborough, Leciestershire. Two new jobs, two new hospitals, three months of living with my in-laws (no where near as bad as one would think!), one move from London later and a bit of well earned time off and now, finally I'm ready to reignite the engines of Resus Andy - Life Support.

So what's in store? Well oddly enough, my first classes have taken me back to London (!) to revisit the Fortius Clinic (www.fortiusclinic.com) in Central London to update their Doctors/Surgeons and clinical staff with regards to the basic and advanced life support. Always nice to asked back specifically even though I'm no longer based in London!

Mean while, back in the countryside...

Plans are afoot to train parents and carers Children's Basic Life Suport at community centres. First aid is becoming more of a concern to parents and The bumps and bruises course, focusing on what to do when your child or loved one has sustained an injury or minor illness is ready to go!

Some new gadgets have arrived at Resus Andy HQ in the form of a AED trainer. AED or Automated External Defibrillators are springing up all over the place (shops, train stations, airports and gyms to name but a few) and are simple devices that can truly make the difference between life and death of someone in cardiac arrest. The skill is easy to learn and now Resus Andy - Life Support can offer this as part of a training package contact info@resusandy.com for more information.

This is a snippet of what is happening and what I've got planned now I'm settled. If you want to know more you're already in the right place resusandy.com

*R.O.S.C - Return of Spontaneous Circulation i.e. The heart has started to pump again without further need for chest compressions.