From Installation to Action: CPM Team Completes Emergency First Aid Training
Earlier this month, Cerebral Palsy Midlands proudly installed a publicly accessible defibrillator and bleed control kit outside our centre on Victoria Road in Harborne. But for us, installing potentially lifesaving equipment was only the first step.
Having a defibrillator outside the building is one thing; making sure our team feels confident enough to respond in an emergency is just as important.
That's why throughout September, nine members of the Cerebral Palsy Midlands team undertook the Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work, delivered by Sacha Quinney, Managing Director of Eden Custom Training.
The six hours of training were split across three two-hour sessions from 15 to 29 September 2026 at CPM, giving our team plenty of opportunity to learn, practise and build their confidence. So 9 of us aty CPM have Level 3 Emergency First Aid!
Above: Sacha from Eden Custom Training at CPM delivering First Aid training at CPM.
Learning to use our community defibrillator
Every member of the team had hands-on practice using a training automated external defibrillator (AED), alongside practising CPR and learning how to respond to a cardiac arrest.
This was particularly valuable following the installation of our LIFEPAK CR2 defibrillator outside CPM.
Above from left to right: Gary, Ian, JP, James, sam, Amy and Clifford outside CPM showing new Defribrillator.
Although an AED is designed to provide instructions to someone using it in an emergency, actually handling a training device and practising the process alongside CPR gave our staff greater familiarity and confidence.
Sacha, who has extensive experience in first aid and a background as a firefighter, made the sessions highly practical and adapted the training to reflect the environment we work in and the needs of the adults we support.
Understanding our bleed control kit
The team also had the opportunity to look inside a bleed control kit and familiarise themselves with the equipment it contains.
Sacha talked staff through how different items could be used when responding to a serious bleed and how to provide appropriate first aid while awaiting emergency medical assistance.
Staff then put that learning into practice with volunteers from the West Midlands Casualty Simulation Group, treating simulated injuries and working through realistic casualty scenarios.
Above: WM Casualty Simulation Group acting as a live casualty as part of the First Aid training
Established in 1992 to provide volunteers to act as casualties for West Midlands Fire Service training, the group has since expanded and supports a variety of emergency services and training exercises across the UK. Having volunteers acting as casualties added a completely different dimension to the training. Instead of simply discussing what we might do, our staff had to assess the situation, communicate with the casualty and put their first-aid learning into practice.
Choking and dysphagia – particularly important at CPM
One area of the training that was especially relevant to our work was choking.
CPM supports adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, some of whom have dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) and require support around eating and drinking. This means recognising and responding appropriately to choking is an important area of first-aid knowledge for our team.
Above: John practicing choking prevention techniques with Craig
Staff were able to practise choking response techniques and discuss how an emergency could present differently for some of the people we support.
The training also encouraged us to think practically about CPR involving someone with significant physical disabilities or limited mobility, including the additional considerations around safely positioning a person and how appropriate moving and handling equipment, such as a hoist, may potentially be required where circumstances allow.
Putting our team through their paces!
Across the sessions, staff practised CPR, AED use, choking response, recovery positions, casualty assessment and responding to serious bleeding.
And there certainly wasn't much chance of sitting quietly at the back! Sacha's practical approach meant everybody got involved, while the West Midlands Casualty Simulation Group gave staff an opportunity to put their learning to the test in much more realistic circumstances. Sarah Lilly, Deputy Manager at Cerebral Palsy Midlands, said:
"Having a defibrillator outside the building is one thing; making sure our team feels confident enough to respond in an emergency is just as important.
“Being able to physically practise our first-aid learning using a training defibrillator, familiarise ourselves with what's inside the bleed control kit and then put those skills into practice with simulated casualties has made a real difference to our confidence.
“Sacha was incredibly knowledgeable and adapted the training to suit our team and the needs of the people we support. Choking was particularly important for us because we support people with dysphagia, so being able to spend time practising and discussing situations that could realistically happen at CPM was invaluable.
“We sincerely hope we'll never need to use these skills in a serious emergency, but we feel much better prepared having practised them.”
Above: Kat, David, Craig & Sophie practicing CPR.
Above: WM Casualty Simulation Volunteer acting as a casualty.
Above: Darren getting hands on experience with CPR.
The next chapter in our community safety project
Our first-aid training feels like the natural next chapter of our community defibrillator project.
The publicly accessible cabinet outside CPM contains a LIFEPAK CR2 defibrillator and Daniel Baird Foundation bleed control kit. Both have been registered with the relevant national systems so emergency services can direct people to the equipment when required.
The equipment and installation were fully funded by Cerebral Palsy Midlands through money raised from our fundraising activities, while CPM also funded this latest staff training, with Eden Custom Training kindly providing a charitable discount.
It demonstrates the wider impact that supporting a small charity can have. Money raised through our events helps us provide activities and opportunities for the adults who attend CPM. It helps us improve our centre and accessibility. It supports the development of our team. And sometimes it enables us to invest in something that could potentially help save a life in our wider community.
A huge thank you to Sacha Quinney and Eden Custom Training for delivering such an engaging and practical course, and to the volunteers from the West Midlands Casualty Simulation Group for helping bring the training to life.
And, of course, thank you to everyone who fundraises, donates, attends our events and supports CPM. Your support makes projects like this possible.
In an emergency, always call 999 and follow the instructions provided by the emergency call handler.
For more information about Eden Custom Training: https://edencustomtraining.co.uk/
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