Invenio Training

02/02/2026

New Year Reset: the first aid skills worth refreshing

New year. New plans. Diet already gone to pot.

Same reality outdoors: when something goes wrong, it’s the basics that save lives.

The evidence is clear — outcomes improve when we prioritise:

• Early recognition
• Catastrophic bleeding control
• Simple airway and breathing management
• Preventing hypothermia
• Calm decision-making under pressure

Not flashy skills.
Not box-ticking.

Just the things you’ll actually rely on when help is delayed and conditions aren’t kind.

I’ve written a short blog breaking down the evidence-based first aid priorities worth revisiting for outdoor instructors and
adventurers as we head into the year ahead.

👉 https://www.inveniotraining.co.uk/blog/new-year-reset-the-first-aid-skills-worth-refreshing/

Train once. Save for life.

Be Adventure Ready.

Which first aid skills really matter outdoors? Evidence-based priorities for instructors and adventurers resetting their skills for the year ahead.

30/01/2026

First Aid Friday

Start at the start:

DR ABC

Most first aid goes wrong before hands ever touch a casualty.
Not because people don’t care — but because they rush.
So today, we start where every good response begins.

D – Danger
Before you help anyone, check the scene.
Traffic. Loose rock. Electricity. Fire.
If you become the next casualty, you help no one.

R – Response
Talk to them. Touch their shoulders. Shout if needed. A response tells you a huge amount — and buys you thinking time. Not responding organise help. Phone on speaker.

A – Airway
An unconscious casualty with a blocked airway will die quickly.
Open it. Look. Listen. Feel.

Airway first, always.
B – Breathing
Normal breathing or not?
If they’re not breathing normally, this is now life-threatening.

C – Catastrophic bleeding
Heavy bleeding kills faster than most people realise.
Find it. Stop it. Simple pressure saves lives.
This isn’t about ticking boxes.
It’s about priorities under pressure.

Next First Aid Friday:

➡️ What “normal breathing” actually looks like — and why people miss it.

Train once. Save for life.
Be Adventure Ready.

28/01/2026

Wellbeing Wednesday – Psychological First Aid (ABCDE)

When something goes wrong outdoors, distress and anxiety often make pain and decision-making worse.

A simple framework used in wilderness settings is the ABCDE of Psychological First Aid, drawn from guidance by the Wilderness Medical Society.

A – Anxiety reduction
Slow the scene. Calm voice. Normalise reactions.

B – Breathing
Guide slow, steady breathing. It’s one of the quickest ways to reduce panic.

C – Comfort
Warmth, shelter, food, water, positioning — physical comfort supports emotional calm.

D – Distraction
Light conversation or simple tasks can reduce pain and fear overload.

E – Emotional support
Listen. Be present. No fixing, no judgement, no false reassurance.

You don’t need the perfect words.
You just need to be calm, human, and supportive in the moment.

Small actions like these can make a big difference to how someone copes during and after an incident.

26/01/2026

Casualty care rarely happens in perfect conditions.

Cold hands.
Layers zipped tight.
Light fading fast.

One of the principles drilled into me during my Army days was simple:

Train as you fight.

Yet a lot of first aid is still practised bare-handed, indoors, in full light. That’s not how incidents happen in the outdoors.
In this week’s blog, I look at:

•Casualty care when you’re wearing gloves
•Managing layers without making hypothermia worse
•Treating and assessing injuries in low light or darkness
•Why realism in training matters when dexterity and visibility are limited

It’s practical, evidence-based, and grounded in real outdoor incidents — not classroom theory.

Train once. Save for life.
Be Adventure Ready.



👉 Read the full post here:

Practical outdoor first aid advice on casualty care in gloves, layers and darkness. Learn how to adapt when dexterity and visibility are limited.

19/01/2026

How to recognise and manage cold injury in UK outdoor settings.

Cold injuries don’t need Arctic temperatures to cause real problems.

In the UK, most cold injuries happen above freezing, in wind, rain, and damp conditions — often creeping in quietly before people realise there’s an issue.

This week’s blog breaks down:
• Frostnip
• Frostbite
• Non-freezing cold injury (NFCI)
• What to look for
• What to do — and what to avoid

It’s practical, UK-focused guidance for anyone who works or spends time outdoors beyond immediate help.

👉 Read the full post here:
https://www.inveniotraining.co.uk/blog/cold-injuries-explained-frostnip-frostbite-nfci/

Learn to recognise & manage frostnip, frostbite & non-freezing cold injury (NFCI) in UK outdoor settings. Practical, evidence-based guidance..

15/01/2026

Outdoor First Aid Training 16hr
Practical, scenario-based outdoor first aid training for people who work or spend time beyond immediate help.

Suitable for:
Outdoor instructors & leaders
Teachers, schools & youth groups
Hillwalkers, climbers & adventurers

What to expect:
Hands-on, realistic outdoor scenarios
Nationally recognised certification
Delivered by an experienced outdoor & medical professional

Professional discounts & benefits available
Discount codes can be found via MTA, MIAs, BMC or Paddle UK — or sign up to our Pro Deal for additional benefits, including Lifesystems gear.

📍 Easy access from London

💷 £185 including VAT

🧰 As a Lifesystems stockist, a Lifesystems Nano First Aid Kit is included for the first 14 bookings made before 31 March 2026.

Upcoming public course dates:
📅 Wed/Thu 28–29 January – Buckinghamshire
📅 Sat/Sun 7–8 February – Oxfordshire
📅 Thu/Fri 19–20 February – Buckinghamshire

📩 Message me for details, private courses, or future dates

🌐 www.inveniotraining.co.uk

12/01/2026

Winter hypothermia isn’t really about temperature.

Most people still think hypothermia only happens in extreme cold.
Minus temperatures. Snowstorms. Harsh conditions.

In reality, many UK hypothermia cases happen in mild winter weather.

Why? Because hypothermia is about heat loss exceeding heat production — and temperature is only one part of that equation.

Wind strips heat rapidly through convection.
Rain and damp clothing collapse insulation.
Fatigue reduces movement and shivering.
Poor calorie intake limits heat generation.

Individually, these don’t feel dramatic.
Combined, they quietly overwhelm people.

This is why experienced outdoor professionals, walkers and students still get caught out — not through recklessness, but through underestimating cumulative risk.

If you work outdoors, supervise groups, or train others, this is a reminder that cold management is about systems, not just layers.

I’ve written a short, evidence-led blog explaining why wind, wetness, fatigue and fuel matter more than the thermometer — and how to manage them practically in UK winter conditions.

👉 https://www.inveniotraining.co.uk/blog/winter-hypothermia-it%E2%80%99s-not-just-about-temperature/

07/01/2026

Recent Resuscitation Council Changes (Outdoor & Schools)

🚑 Important first aid updates you need to know (2025)

The Resuscitation Council has released updated guidance that affects anyone responsible for children, young people, or groups outdoors.

This isn’t theory.
These changes directly impact:
• Outdoor instructors & leaders
• Teachers & school staff
• Duke of Edinburgh supervisors
• Anyone delivering or relying on first aid in real-world settings

I’ve broken the key updates down clearly in my latest blog, including:
✔️ Changes to airway management
✔️ Updated CPR guidance
✔️ Clear age definitions for infants, children & adolescents
✔️ What this means for outdoor environments and schools

No jargon.
No panic.
Just practical implications you should be aware of.

👉 Read the full blog here: https://www.inveniotraining.co.uk/blog/resuscitation-council-uk-2025-guidelines/

Because being qualified is good — but being current is essential.

16/10/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CXUeEp7Vb/

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE:
💙 The ERC - European Resuscitation Council is excited to announce the launch of the Guidelines on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation 2025, which will take place on October 22, 2025, in Rotterdam. This event is a collaborative effort between the European Resuscitation Council, the American Heart Association and the ILCOR.
❤️ We are pleased to present a comprehensive program that highlights the latest advancements in resuscitation science and applied practice. Over 200 experts in resuscitation science will gather in person to mark this momentous event: the simultaneous release of the CPR Guidelines of the ERC and AHA, presented by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR).
💯 All the different sessions will be made available via live-stream in parallel, and at no cost to the viewer.
✅ Check our website for all the live stream links.
👉 https://www.erc.edu/save-the-date
👉 https://cprguidelines.eu/news
✅ PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL TIMES ARE LISTED IN CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME (CET).
✅ NO PRE-REGISTRATION NEEDED.
🙏 We look forward to your participation and encourage you to join the sessions that interest you the most.

American Heart Association - CPR & First Aid

15/10/2025

It can be a very varied life being a self employed instructor and medic. This week I have worked on an ambulance, covered primary care supporting GP's, removed an ear bud from someone's ear and taught GP's and nurses BLS. Looking ahead, more primary care, a rugby festival and teaching first aid.

14/10/2025

“Don’t move them!” used to be the golden rule for spinal injuries — but wilderness medicine has moved on.

The latest guidance from the Wilderness Medical Society (2024) and UK ambulance services (RCSEd 2025) now focuses on spinal-cord protection, not rigid immobilisation.
✅ Self-extrication is often safer than being lifted.
✅ Airway and hypothermia take priority over “perfect stillness.”
✅ Collars and long boards are now for very limited use.

Read the full breakdown and good-practice checklist → See Comments Below

25/09/2025

⚠️ Does your workplace training really tick the compliance boxes?
Outdoor and adventure organisations have a duty to keep staff and clients safe — and regulators are looking for more than just a tick in the box.

We’ve just published a new blog breaking down what compliance really means (and how to make it easier for your team).

👉 Read here: https://www.inveniotraining.co.uk/blog/compliance-in-outdoor-education-why-it%E2%80%99s-the-backbone-of-safe-adventure/

Learn why compliance matters in outdoor education. OEAP guidance, EVAs, and first aid training keep staff, schools, and adventurers safe.