§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether(a) police training for recruits and (b) in-service training for police officers includes awareness of how to respond to members of the public with acquired brain injuries. [157560]
§ Ms BlearsThe 15 week Probationer Training Programme delivered by Centrex to all new police recruits, incorporates a First Aid course consisting of five modules to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) approved Common Minimum Standards.
The course includes management of a casualty with head and associated injuries, convulsion and stroke. It teaches how to recognise signs and symptoms, examine and treat injury, obtain medical help, adopt the correct position, provide reassurance and monitoring. Training also includes life saving, illness in public places, and dealing with sudden death if required. In addition to testing the knowledge. understanding and skills on all these issues, probationers would also be assessed on attitudes and behaviour.
In police forces, specialist courses are delivered to officers as needed. Members of the public who enter custody at police stations are assessed and medical advice sought where appropriate.