The Isle of Wight’s Suicide Prevention and Intervention charity has taken things to new heights in an already busy month for the team.
SPIIOW are always looking at ways in which their frontline team can help a person who is at risk, and for this to be carried out in a safe and controlled manner.
Safe Working at Height (SWAH) training has now been undertaken which includes medical considerations, pre-planning and training in the use of specialist equipment required to carry out the task.
Thanks to in-house fundraising and the very kind donations of the Island Community, 6 frontline members have been put through their paces in this latest training.
Sarah Adams of Suicide Prevention & Intervention IOW says:
“As we actively undertake community engagement in high risk locations, with this training we can act slightly quicker in a safe and controlled way, using our skills in crisis/suicide intervention to offer supportive listening, to start a dialogue and to encourage more hopeful solutions than suicide – and work to keeping that person safe for now until further help arrives.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that we are not the HM Coastguard and if anyone sees someone in trouble along the cliff, beach or at sea they should contact the Coastguard by calling 999. Our teams are not permitted to go down the cliff face but to undertake our work to the cliff edge safely and quickly”.
