Venture Security officers praised for their assistance with medical emergencies

All of our officers here at Venture Security, undergo first aid training, including mental health first aid for many. While we hope they will never need to put those skills to use, medical emergencies are something our officers are frequently faced with. Here are two recent examples.

“My training just kicked in”

For Ian Robinson, who works as part of our Event Security team, his training and speed of action helped resolve a potentially life-threatening situation.

Ian first joined the team here at Venture in 2019 as a car park steward, going on to gain his SIA license in March 2020. As well as working at various regional events, Ian can regularly be found as part of the team at Salisbury Racecourse.

While on shift one weekend, an urgent message reached Ian that a customer was choking in one of the bar areas. He immediately attended the scene, where he found an older gentleman who was very distressed, leaning over a table choking.

Ian explained to the man that he was a first aider and with his consent, attempted to clear the blockage. Several attempts to help clear the obstruction by slapping him on the back failed, so Ian used the abdominal thrust method. While the first thrust didn’t clear the obstruction, the second one did - much to the man’s relief.

Ian commented: “I really enjoy working at the racecourse and get to work alongside a great group of people. As a team, we are there to help and trained to deal with any incidents and unexpected occurrences that are thrown our way.

“When I located the gentleman who was chocking, my training just kicked in and I was very pleased to have been able to help. There is a satisfaction in knowing that the knowledge acquired on a First Aid course was put into practice successfully. This is exactly the type of incident you’re trained to be ready for 'just in case'”

Paul Howe, MD Venture Security, said: “I’m incredibly proud of Ian and the way he calmly and professionally dealt with the situation. He not only helped the man, at what must have been a very distressing time, but did so in a respectful way that preserved the man’s dignity. Ian is an asset to the team.”

Venture officer supports disabled man following fall

Meet Brett, a Winchester BID Ranger and valued member of our Town & City Centre Security team. His actions during a recent medical emergency in the city centre are likely to have prevented a far more serious conclusion.

Brett was contacted by a local hotel who were concerned about a disabled guest who had fallen and injured his arm. An ambulance had been called but they wished for some extra first-aid support in the interim. All of our officers are trained in first aid and with a particular interest and background in healthcare, Brett was only too happy to assist.

Upon arrival at the hotel, he noticed that the man’s arm was dislocated and that the blood was not reaching it properly. His pulse was also weak. Brett contacted the ambulance service to update them on the severity of the situation. He then made sure the man was as comfortable as possible, while continuing to check his vitals and assisting the ambulance crew when they arrived.

Paul Howe, MD Venture Security, commented: “For Brett, we know he sees this as just another day and all part of the job, but we want to give a special mention for the role he played in a distressing and potentially very serious situation.”

• To find out more about Venture’s event security services, click here.

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