A FIRST aid course aimed at reducing the impact of accidents on farms is being held later this month.

The First Aid for Farmers course, which takes place at Carlisle’s Borderway Mart, has been designed specifically for people working in the agricultural sector, which has the worst rate of work-related injury of any industry.

Organised by H&H Safety, which is part of H&H Insurance Brokers, the course will take place on Tuesday, November 30 and covers practical skills to deal with life-threatening on-farm scenarios such as quad bike accidents, and incidents involving animals and machinery.

Paul Graham, Managing Director of H&H Insurance Brokers, which operates across the North of England, the Scottish Borders and Wales, said: “It’s important that we remove or manage risks on the farm and raise awareness of how farmers can protect themselves from injury. The course highlights the serious hazards farmers face on a daily basis, and helps them spot the dangers and how best to avoid them.

“Sometimes, injuries can’t be fixed with basic first aid but knowing the right action to take while help is on the way could be the difference between life and death.”

According to the most recent figures from the Health and Safety Executive, an estimated 12,000 workers in agriculture, forestry and fishing sustained an injury at work, a figure significantly higher than other industries.

The number of people who lost their lives in agricultural incidents from April 2020 to the end of March 2021 almost doubled to 41, compared to 21 the previous year. The 2020/2021 figure includes 34 workers and seven members of the public.

The course is being delivered by Farm and Forestry First Aid (F3A), which provides specialist first aid courses for the farming and forestry sector.

The three-hour course covers essential first-aid skills such as assessing a casualty, the correct recovery position, how to administer CPR, using an Automated External Defibrillator, as well as learning about the treatment of crush injuries, amputation, impalement and severe bleeding.

The course is led by qualified health care professionals registered with the Health & Care Professions Council. To book a place email safety@hhib.co.uk or call Alison Agnew on 01228 406332.

H&H Safety is in partnership with health and safety specialists AW Safety.