​http://m.gulfnews.com/news/uae/leisure/trekker-recalls-horror-during-mountain-climb-in-ras-al-khaimah-1.1996733
Trekker recalls horror during mountain climb in Ras Al Khaimah
Take all precautions, but be prepared for the worst, says hiker
18:33 March 19, 2017
Ras Al Khaimah: Trekking is a passion for many in the UAE, who look forward to cooler winter months to explore the rugged mountains in the north. But, like most outdoor activities, it comes with a significant amount of risk.
It doesn’t take long for the cool factor in an adventure sport to turn into a misfortune. You might be experienced and well-equipped, but the danger is always there.
In an interview with Gulf News, a trekker recalls how a recent trip to the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah almost turned into a nightmare.
Olga Zolotova, an adventure sport enthusiast, was on a trek on March 10 with a group of experienced hikers, when a member of the group slipped and fell off a cliff.
Fortunately, she survived with minor injuries, but it could have been much worse.
“This case is a good reminder to every hiker, regardless of the [person’s] experience, that when you go outdoor you always are taking risk. You can eliminate risk to a certain extent [right gear, enough water, medical supply, helmets, route knowledge etc.] but you can’t eliminate the risk fully. Even the most experienced hiker can slip and fall,” said 26-year-old Zolotova, who has been trekking for the last three years.
She added that though it is important to prepare well for the adventure, what is more important is being prepared for the worst outcome.
Referring to the accident on March 10, she said: “This accident could have happened to anyone. In this particular case, it had nothing to do with her experience, group size, gear etc. The person who fell was into sport, athletic, she was wearing proper equipment, but she slipped, and it happened.”
Giving details of the trip, Zolotova, who is from Russia, said that the hike was organised by a local expatriate forum to promote sport and outdoor activities with experienced members who had taken all the necessary precautions.
According to Zolotova, on the morning of March 10, the group met at a gas station as they had agreed in advance and headed towards RAK.
“The weather was nice, when we arrived at the starting point, we filled the water bottles, put on the gear and started the ascent. The route was steep and quite exposed, but not difficult technically,” she said.
For logistical purposes the group of around 20 people was split into two smaller groups, added Zolotova, making sure that there were experienced hikers in both groups to help the inexperienced members.
“There were many people who had climbed high-altitude mountains before and have had a long climbing and hiking experience, so splitting into small groups was a right decision,” she said.
At one point on the route, the group came across a big boulder, she said, “but it was not difficult to climb and most of the group, including me, climbed it quickly.”
However, when Zolotova came on top of the boulder she heard a sound of falling rocks and heard people screaming.
“I rushed down to see what happened and could not see anything. People explained to me that a member of our group slipped on the rocks, rolled down and fell off the small cliff (about a metre or two deep),” she explained.
Though the victim hit her head on a rock and was bleeding, she luckily didn’t suffer any fractures and only had a few bruises. However, she was obviously in a state of shock.
“Due to the nature of the route, it was very difficult to carry her down, and to go all the way up and complete hike was also dangerous, she needed medical assistance. We immediately called the local police and emergency and, in the meantime, we used bandage to stop the bleeding,” said Zolotova.
She said that police and a rescue helicopter arrived at the scene within 15 minutes but since there was no proper spot for it to land, the helicopter returned to get a special rescue team with ropes to get the victim down to safety.
“Police and the rescue teams were extremely prompt. Once she was rescued and taken to the hospital, we continued our trek and completed it in the next couple of hours. Our friend had to spend a number of days in the hospital to make sure everything is alright and now she is fine,” Zolotova added.
Though, accidents happen despite all precautions, Zolotova said she doesn’t want beginners to lose interest in hiking due to the risks involved.
“There are many nice hiking places in UAE and Oman and I am personally a fan of the outdoors. Just be careful, be prepared and enjoy the nature in a safe and respectful way,” she said.

Thabks to all the supporters and followers of our Twitter page @dubaifirstaid
We are slowly growing from strength to strength.
​Next milestone is 10,000!

On 14 March 2016, Caduceus Medical DMCC completed its accreditation process with Trakhees-EHS department.

This certification ensures additional accreditation and validation of training specifically in the free zones of Dubai. 
​

We are excited to present our Wilderness First Aid (Standard Level) Course for March. There are still a few spaces available for this course. Register now by email to training@dubaifirstaid.com or online (follow link)

What is the course about?
An offroad, wilderness and outdoor course designed specifically to provide skills in emergency first aid, remote site first aid and skills related to medical emergencies. Full certification in CPR & AED is also provided on this course.
The course is presented over a period of 2 full days and covers interesting aspects of first aid skills and emergency care. 

Who should registerer for this course?
Outdoor & Offroad enthusiasts, persons with an interest in wilderness and remote site medicine, general advanced first aid training requirements. The course is also great for persons who spend time on sports events, tours, travel and other adventure type activities. It provides more detailed knowledge on first aid skills and provides broader knowledge base for persons involved in first aid, HSE and similar disciplines.

There are no specific entry requirements specifically for this course, however a good understanding of written English is required as there is a large textbook and written exams. Pre-course lessons and exercises as well as study of the text is required to ensure all persons understand the course requirements and get a better grip on the subject matter.


Wilderness First Aid (Emergency Remote Site First Aid) Course
COURSE: Standard Wilderness First Aid Course 16 hours 
DATE: 2 full days - Wed 16 March & Thursday 17 March Caduceus Medical - JLT Training Centre
TIME: 08:00-18:00 daily for both days.
Entry Requirements: 
All participants should be able to read, write and understand English well.
All participants will be required to pass a basic written and practical exam to achieve the certification.
Accreditations & Certifications 
The course is certified by the Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI) in the USA and is locally accredited by the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS).
The course content is as follows:
FIRST AID
    ·Basic Anatomy & Physiology
    ·First Aid Skills including wounds, injuries, fractures, burns
    ·Remote Site First Aid Skills including basic survival skills esp desert survival lecture
    ·Practical First Aid skills for wounds, fractures, use of EPI-PEN, first aid kits.
    ·Medical Emergencies such as heart attack, diabetic emergencies, allergic reactions.
    ·Written and Practical Evaluations
    ·Scenario based exercises
CPR & AED Skills 
    ·Adult , Child & Infant CPR & AED
    ·Adult, Child and Infant Choking (airway obstruction) 
All certificates are valid for a period of 2 years from date of issue and are presented on the final day of training at the end of the course.
Course Format
The course is presented in an interactive and enjoyable format, ensuring maximum participation and involvement of all students. Lectures and practical scenarios to ensure all skills are mastered and practiced.
Price
The course fee per person is Dhs920 per person.
Payment can be made in cash/by cheque or online (click this link). Once payment has been made a course manual is provided for some pre-course reading and exercises.
Advanced Wilderness First Aid Course
Following up to this standard course we are presenting an Advanced Wilderness First Aid course at the end of April 2016. This course runs over a period of 2 weekends, and if you have completed this Standard course, you will receive 50% credit towards the Advanced certification. i.e. only attend 2 days of the advanced course. 
If you would like more information about this Advanced course drop me a line on training@dubaifirstaid.com with the subject Advanced Wilderness First Aid or fill in this online enquiry form.

Thanks and looking forward to welcoming you on our course.


William
Training Department 
CADUCEUS MEDICAL DMCC
Email:             training@dubaifirstaid.com 
Website:    www.dubaifirstaid.com 
Office/Fax:     +971 4 554 7056
Mobile:          +971 50 971 7379 

These are the ECSI updated guidelines for CPR since the 2015 guidelines were released in October 2015.

No major significant changes but tweaks specifically, see below files.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/09/24/how-to-set-up-your-emergency-medical-id-with-ios-8s-new-health-app
How to set up your emergency Medical ID with iOS 8's new Health appBy Neil Hughes
Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 09:18 am PT (12:18 pm ET)
One of the lesser known — but potentially most important — features of Apple's newly released iOS 8 mobile operating system is a digital "Medical ID," which can provide important personal health related information in the event of an emergency.














​The Medical ID feature is built in to the new Health application found in iOS 8 for iPhone. Users can configure it by launching Health, tapping the Medical ID menu in the bottom right, and then choosing "Create Medical ID."

iPhone users with a passcode-locked handset can consider enabling the "Show When Locked" function, providing first responders or anyone else with emergency access to their Medical ID. Enabling this feature allows the Medical ID to be viewed by swiping the lock screen, tapping "Emergency," and then viewing the digital information.

A user's Medical ID can be configured with a custom picture and name, date of birth, list of medical conditions, notes, allergies, reactions and medications. It also allows users to display an emergency contact with name, telephone number, and relationship.

The Medical ID also allows users to enter their blood type, height and weight, and whether they are an organ donor. And if someone changes their mind about having such information available from their lock screen, all of the Medical ID information can be deleted via one button at the bottom of the editing page.

After the Medical ID has been created, users can always go back and make changes at any time through the Health app.

Medical ID is just one function of the new Health application in iOS 8, which aims to become a centralized repository for all of a user's health information, whether input manually or automatically collected through iPhone accessories.

The more advanced Health functions with connected applications and accessories have not yet gone live, as Apple apparently encountered last-minute bugs with its new HealthKit application programming interface tools for developers. Apple abruptly began pulling HealthKit-enabled applications from the App Store last week, alongside the launch of iOS 8, indicating that a formal launch for Health-compatible apps would come at a later date.

For more features and functions in iOS 8, see AppleInsider's ongoing iOS Tips series.

Originally posted and taken from an article the Kipp Report: 
Good Samaritan principles in the UAE: Legal liabilities when administering first aid 
By Rebecca Kelly, partner at Clyde & CoJune 4, 2014 11:56 by kippreport

The Good Samaritan principle means a range of different things around the world, both in accordance with legislation and customs and practices. It is human nature to want to help another that needs medical assistance, but in today’s society, there is an understandable concern that individuals that attempt to help another may be at risk of having a claim brought against them if that person suffers harm as a result of their intervention.
The following article discusses whether a Good Samaritan principle can be applied in the UAE, both from the perspective of rescuers and safety officers.
There is often confusion as to what the legal liability will be in UAE when a person administers first aid and what, if any, the legal consequences will be if the injured person dies as result of their injuries. In this legal update, we address the following three points, in accordance with the UAE laws and shari’a laws:
Is the concept of a Good Samaritan recognised within the UAE?
Can a person who administers first aid be held legally accountable for any subsequent injuries and/or causing death in the event the injured person dies?
What is the recommended approach for the delivery of first aid in the UAE?
The Good Samaritan principle
While the origins of the Good Samaritan principle are based on a religious parable, over time, it has developed to include rescuers and first aid officers administering first aid in the aftermath of an emergency. Various authorities around the world have established legal precedents, where the law does not require a member of the public to act as a Good Samaritan. However, if a person chooses to do so, then, in most jurisdictions, the law offers protection to the Good Samaritan from civil compensation claims and/or criminal cases, except to the extent that their own acts caused damage beyond that which the injured would have suffered if the Good Samaritan had not intervened.
“There is, happily, in all men of goodwill, an urge to save those who are in peril.”1
Within the UAE, a question often asked in respect of this goodwill is whether or not an individual will be held legally liable (and face imprisonment and/or civil responsibility for the payment of ‘diya’ or ‘arsh’) for contributing to someone’s death or injuries if they have provided assistance to that injured person. So, while it is human nature to want to help another that needs assistance, in today’s society, there is an understandable concern that individuals who attempt to help another may be at risk of having a claim brought against them if that person suffers harm as a result of the intervention. Understanding how the UAE laws treat individuals that offer first aid (either in their professional capacity or in rescue circumstances) is important.
UAE law considerations
The UAE does not have a stand-alone Good Samaritan law, unlike other jurisdictions. Over the past few years, there have been news reports of a draft law under consideration, but as [of now], no such law has been published. If a Good Samaritan law were to be enacted in the UAE, it would be the first of its kind in the GCC region.
Typically, the key provision contained in Good Samaritan laws provides legal immunity for those individuals that administer first aid in a rescue situation, when they acted in good faith and without remuneration. Of course, other considerations include the informed consent, parental rights and the right of the victim to refuse treatment.
In the UAE, pursuant to articles 342 and 343 of the Penal Code (Federal Law No. (3) of 1987 as amended), a person may be punished if they cause the death or injury of another person. In accordance with the Penal Code, causation can attach where the person “refrained, at that moment, from helping the victim… in spite of the fact that he was capable of doing so” or “if the crime was committed as a result of the offender’s failure to perform the duties imposed on him in the performance of his function, profession or craft…”
However, pursuant to article 52(3) of the Penal Code, no crime is committed where medical treatment is performed in accordance with generally accepted scientific principles and with the express or implied consent of the patient or if medical interference is required in emergency cases. Therefore, no criminal liability will attach to an individual performing first aid in a rescuer situation, as long as the conditions of article 52 of the Penal Code are met.
Shari’a law considerations
Based upon a Fatwa authored by the Official Iftaa Centre, General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments on First Aid Procedures in 2010 (First Aid Fatwa), first aid must be administered by all people in accordance with the Shari’a law.
The Fatwa states (as translated): “Islamic Shari’a is based upon the five necessities, one of which concerns the preservation of one’s life and property. Therefore, the provision of first aid can be seen as both an Islamic duty and a humanitarian necessity, as first aid is administered to save people’s lives and relieve their pain. Any trained medical person, particularly in emergency situations, ‘do their best efforts’ to prove immediate relief and this is supported by the general provisions of Shari’a that call for co-operation, helping the needy and relieving inflicted people.” Therefore, in accordance with the Fatwa, no criminal liability will attach to an individual, in respect to both Shari’a laws and UAE laws when they perform first aid. The opposite is true; those that do not assist when they witness a person suffering can be held criminally accountable.
Immunity from prosecution
“It is true that, while the common law imposes no duty to rescue, it does impose on the Good Samaritan the duty to act with due care once he has undertaken rescue operations. The rationale is that other would-be rescuers will rest on their oars in the expectation that effective aid is being rendered.”2
While the citation above is the US judicial obiter dicta, it is similar to the UAE position. The UAE legislation and shari’a law principles cited above should not be interpreted to suggest that a rescuer is expected to be competent to treat someone suffering from a heart attack and that, if they fail to do so, they will be held responsible in the event of the individual’s death. Rather, the rescuer should seek medical assistance for the victim as soon as possible in order to discharge their duty.
Safety officers
A first aider or safety officer should not be afraid to do their job for the fear of legal repercussions. If a first aider witnesses an accident at work and fails to do anything to help and, the victim dies or is seriously injured, then they may find themselves falling foul of the Penal Code. However, where they administered first aid, within their competence, and then took the necessary steps to seek external expert medical assistance where required, criminal liability should not attach to that person, should the first aid not be enough to save or treat the patient.
It is essential for companies with an in-house first aid capability to ensure that the persons are suitably trained and have the necessary equipment and resources at their disposal in case of an accident or incident. The UAE Federal Labour Law (Federal Law No. (8) of 1980 as amended) (Labour Law) and Ministry of Labour Decisions No. (32) and No. (37/2) of 1982 specify the minimum requirements for first aid supplies, but companies are free to (and arguably should) adopt a higher standard and can include additional supplies. By way of example, the Labour Law does not require companies to have a defibrillator, but if a company chooses to install one, then they must also ensure their staff is suitably trained to operate it.
The First Aid Fatwa outlines whether or not a nurse (and the same test will be applied for safety officers) will be held accountable for the death of a patient, if the patient dies after the safety officer has administered first aid. In particular, the First Aid Fatwa concludes: “If a complaint is lodged after an incident, the judge investigating the whole situation will determine how properly the first aid officer performed their job.”
Therefore, while we can seek guidance from the UAE law and the Shari’a law, it will only ever be up to criminal court judge to determine the level of accountability and this decision will focus on whether the individual performed their job properly (or refused to perform their job) and provided adequate first aid in the circumstances.
Cultural sensitivities
Questions often arise as to whether there are religious or gender-based restrictions on who may provide first aid to whom. As the UAE law does not address cultural issues that may arise when a rescuer or safety officer administers first aid, we can only take guidance from the First Aid Fatwa. The First Aid Fatwa deals with both questions (i) whether it is permissible in accordance with the shari’a Law for a non-Muslim to administer first aid to a Muslim and (ii) also whether a male may administer first aid to a female. Both are answered in the affirmative that is that anyone can administer first aid in situations where there is an emergency and they will not be punished for doing so in circumstances where they are of a different religion or different gender to the injured person.
In practice, however, companies should ensure that where employees have a particular objection with respect to who may administer medical treatments, such information is clearly recorded in their files.
Recommended approach to first aid
Provided persons act within their competencies and take reasonable and proportionate measures when an accident occurs, then the Good Samaritan should not fear adverse legal consequences in the UAE. If an emergency arises, and the first responder is not medically trained, then they are under a positive obligation to seek immediate medical assistance. No one should ignore another man’s peril, as that will be against Shari’a principles and the UAE laws.

Caduceus Medical has finalized the process for being able to be a registered training site for the American Heart Association (AHA) for the provision if Basic Life Support courses. 
This will go live during December 2015....... stay tuned for updates.