Course Introduction

Ligature awareness training is specifically designed for anyone who is supporting children and adults who are at risk of attempting suicide or self-harm by various means including the application of a ligature. This could be school teachers, care homes to prison workers.

Course Overview

This Ligature awareness training course is designed to train delegates in the safe and effective techniques when rescuing a person from ligature (hanging). A range of training methods are used in this course including tutor lead presentation, group discussion, small and large group practical activities and role-play.

  • Risk Assessment: Recognising potential ligature points and materials within an environment (e.g., in mental health units, care homes).
  • Awareness: Identifying signs that a person might be planning to self-harm or is in distress.
  • Emergency Response: Techniques for quickly cutting a person down safely, often using specific tools like a hook-knife or ligature cutter.
  • First Aid & Aftercare: Immediate medical actions after a suicide attempt, such as managing injuries from strangulation.
  • Legal Compliance: Adhering to health and safety regulations (e.g., Care Quality Commission standards in the UK).

Course Contents

Understanding Asphyxiation and Strangulation.

Signs and symptoms of ligature injuries.

Ligature risk assessment.

Ligature cutting tools, types & their use.

The correct method of ligature removal

Practical: The cutting of a ligature using proper ligature cutting tools

Managing ligature incident involving a suspended, part suspended and unsuspended casualty.

Basic Lie Support (BLS)

CPR/Use of AED /Recovery Position.

Suspected Spinal Injury. (MILS) Practical

That it is a crime scene till otherwise told.

 

This training can be extended and added on to our mental health training courses.

More Courses

  • Outdoor First Aid 12 Hours

    Learners who complete this course will be equipped with a broad set of skills enabling them to administer first aid in challenging outdoor surroundings, which may be a few hours away from the support of the emergency services.

  • First Response Emergency Care FREC 3

    FREC 3 is a regulated, nationally recognised pre‑hospital care qualification. It is typically delivered over 5 days.

  • Ligature Training

    We can offer a 3-hour training session to a full days course depending on your needs.