Leading Safety Expert's New Book Reveals Life-Threatening Hazards

LEADING health and safety expert in schools, Entertainment and the performing arts, Dr. Randall W.A. Davidson has written a new book which reveals life-threatening hazards. Practical Health and Safety Guidelines for School Theater Operations is a new text book with eye-opening safeguards and recommendations, that when used can help mitigate and prevent litigation. The material may be startling to some, but it is the author’s hope that it is a major wake-up call to all those who work in and administer school performing arts activities. It is a must-have and must-read for all schools, theaters and any facility with an auditorium or performing space. It is especially useful to health and safety professionals, risk managers, insurance carriers and loss control personnel, and personal liability lawyers. This book ultimately can saves lives by implementing its information and mitigating hazards.

This handbook presents a series of day-to-day risk management guidelines. It is a hands-on reference book, with many photographs of real-life risky and dangerous conditions and situations, pointing out hazardous exposures and risks to those individuals who, by law, are elected, hired or appointed to operate school districts and their performing arts programs, in a healthy and safe environment. Practical Health and Safety Guidelines for School Theater Operations identifies areas that most performing personnel and administrators might not think are dangerous or hazardous, such as aging or outdated equipment or facilities.

The purpose of this book is to motivate the necessary major rethinking and changes regarding health and safety practices in the performing arts at all levels of education. Dr. Davidson’s book provides readers with over 400 pages of pertinent health and safety information, pointing out hazardous conditions and recommended practices and it is a call to action to protect and save the lives of students and their instructors in the performing arts worldwide.

There are chapters on fire prevention and suppression, and the safe use of pyrotechnics and special effects, fog, chemicals, makeup, machinery both in the classrooms and shops. There are chapters that also detail safe handling information and the risks of chemicals. The author shares his vast knowledge and experience from the entertainment industry and school theater worlds. This book shows how to create the necessary health and safety culture in the performing arts so that everyone can enjoy working in this vital and exciting area of education.

About Dr. Randall W.A. Davidson, a.k.a. Dr. Doom:
He is a leading expert in the field of health, safety and risk management. He has made hundreds and hundreds of risk assessments of schools, public assembly venues, and entertainment facilities all over the world. He is renowned for his health and safety workshops and seminars in the entertainment industry. His unwavering concern and deep passion for the protection and safeguard of students, workers, actors and audiences in theater productions is legendary. He has clients around the globe in the fields of entertainment, health, safety, environment, and government. He has testified in 360 laws suits dealing with Entertainment, Education, Public Assembly and the Performing Arts.

Makeover for city pools

2 LIVERPOOL community swimming pools are getting facelifts for the New Year.  Lifestyles Woolton pool and Newhall pool are closing in the coming weeks to allow essential improvements to take place. 

Woolton pool will be drained in the week beginning Monday 27 November to allow pool tiles to be repaired. Improvements will also be made to the changing rooms.  The maintenance work, which will benefit hundreds of local people, as well as school groups and swimming clubs will be completed on Monday 18 December 2006.

Newhall pool closes on Monday 20 November for 10 weeks to allow a number of improvements to take place, including better access for disabled people and a new reception area.  The pool offers a range of sessions for the local community, catering for local residents, groups with special needs, fifty-plus groups and women only groups. It re-opens on Monday 29th January 2007.

Council Leader Warren Bradley said:- "Woolton pool and Newhall pool are vital resources for the community, and we're committed to providing local residents with the facilities they deserve. This essential work will allow us to bring the pools right up-to-date.  It's a real boost for hundreds of local swimmers, who can look forward to brighter, more modern, disabled friendly facilities which fully meet the needs of everyone in the community."

Liverpool City Council apologises for any inconvenience caused while this essential work takes place.

THE SILENT KILLER

ELDERLY and vulnerable people in Liverpool are at real risk from a deadly killer. It stalks them quietly over a period of time, and once it’s caught them there’s little chance of escape…  We’re talking of course about Hypothermia, and with the launch of the Warm Homes Campaign on 20 November, and falling temperatures, Liverpool’s Advantage Healthcare office, one of the UK’s top healthcare solutions organisations, gives advice and guidance to help us prevent this silent threat. Whether it’s for yourself, a neighbour, a relative, or a friend; following the steps outlined below really could help save a life.

Last winter, in England and Wales, 23,000 elderly people died as a direct result of the cold. This shocking figure is not unique or unexpected, in fact in the last 5 years more than 130,000 people over 65 have died in this way.  What makes the statistics more worrying, is that the UK has a higher number of winter deaths than comparable European countries; and even EU neighbours with colder climates such as Finland, Denmark and Austria have lower numbers of deaths attributable to the cold than us.

Dr Peter Sachon from the Met Office said winter deaths go up by approximately 1.4% for every 1 degree drop in temperature below 18 degrees Celsius. Most of these will be from respiratory or cardiovascular ailments such as heart attacks, strokes, bronchial and other conditions.  So what causes this silent killer and what can be done about it? Advantage Healthcare is an agency at the frontline of the fight to cut these unnecessary deaths. They provide highly trained staff to GP’s Surgeries, hospitals and health centres; as well as providing domiciliary care for elderly and infirm clients in the comfort of their own homes. They have 35 branches nationwide and the Liverpool branch staff are promoting ways to ‘stay safe this winter’.

Keith Nurcombe, Operations Director of Advantage Healthcare, explained:- “Our staff are highly trained and well aware of the ways to spot and treat the various stages of hypothermia, however in many cases avoidable deaths happen because no-one spots the warning signs. Which is why it’s so important that there is a shared responsibility amongst all care workers, including district nurses, GPs, and the family and friends of vulnerable people. Having seen the devastation that this silent killer causes, we’re trying to increase awareness of what to look for and what to do.”

What is Hypothermia?

Hypothermia occurs in cold environments when the normal body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius drops below 35 degrees Celsius. When the body energy is exhausted, hypothermia can become life-threatening which is why the elderly are so vulnerable.

There are 3 stages of hypothermia and it is important to familiarise yourself with their symptoms. Mild hypothermia is accompanied by bouts of shivering, grogginess and muddled thinking, whilst Moderate hypothermia is characterised by violent shivering or shivering which suddenly stops, an inability to think and pay attention, slow shallow breathing, and a slow weak pulse. Severe hypothermia sees the shivering stop and the patient lose consciousness, whilst displaying little or no breathing and a weak irregular or non-existent pulse.

What causes Hypothermia and how can you protect against it?

One key factor which can contribute to hypothermia is homes which are inadequately heated. Age Concern is currently lobbying the government to increase the fuel allowances provided, however if fuel bills are a problem, it is important to ensure that at least one room is well heated.

Older people should also ensure that they dress well, ideally with thin layers of clothes made of wool, cotton or fleecy fabrics, and that they do not stay sitting still for long periods of time. Any exercise should however be approached with caution during the wet or icy weather.

It’s also important that all vulnerable people get their flu jabs, and it’s also advised that they have at least one hot meal every day, and sip hot drinks regularly. Friends, family members and neighbours can help by keeping an eye on elderly people, and ensuring that in the particularly cold weather they have sufficient provisions, that gaps in doors and windows are sealed up, and that the heating system is working well.

Electric blankets are often used by the elderly to keep warm at night, however they do pose a certain risk themselves. If using one, it is imperative that it is safety checked every 3 years; Age Concern are currently offering free checks for older people in selected areas of the UK. For more information contact Age Concern’s Information Line on 0800 009966 or visit www.ageconcern.org.uk.

How Do You Treat Hypothermia?

The NHS advise that hypothermia is always treated as a medical emergency, and that the symptoms are judged themselves, regardless of what the person actually says.

The emergency services should be contacted as extreme hypothermia needs expert urgent medical treatment; indeed rapid re-warming with hot water or massage should be avoided as if it is not done properly it could lead to serious tissue damage.

Advantage Healthcare’s recent acquisition of Quantica Healthcare has expanded the Group’s UK regional presence, and strengthened its position as one of the leading healthcare recruitment solutions providers in the UK. The £4.5 million purchase sees Advantage Healthcare expand its portfolio of services to also include qualified social workers.

Advantage Healthcare Group Limited brings together a number of nationally recognised brands, including Quantica Healthcare, Montpellier Health Care, Professional Healthcare Services (PHS), Strand Nurses Bureau Ltd, Advantage Healthcare Nursing & Care Limited, Advantage Healthcare Overseas Staffing Limited.

To find out more information about Advantage Healthcare, please call 0800 032 3355, email,  visit website or speak to your local branch. Alternatively contact the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 336699.