Saving bikers' lives is on the cards

 

* The launch of the CRASH card scheme.

 

A new scheme aimed at saving the lives of bikers just launched across Wales will be of interest in Llangollen which attracts a large number of motorcyclists throughout the year.

 

The billingial CRASH Card holds personal details such as allergies and medical history which could prove vital knowledge for attending ambulance crews and hospital staff.

Launched in partnership with the Welsh Ambulance Service, the North Wales Motorcycle Alliance and North Wales Police, the CRASH card could save valuable time and help with treatment especially if the rider is either unconscious or unable to communicate.

Welsh Ambulance Service Medical Director, Dr Paul Hughes, said “The CRASH cards will provide our staff with vital clinical information to improve the care we can provide for motorcyclists across North Wales. It’s important to remember that removing a motorcyclist’s helmet after an accident is a specialist task which should only be performed by ambulance crews or other trained personnel.”

Emergency responders are alerted to the card’s existence by a green dot which is placed on the right hand corner of the visor or helmet.

The card also has a mnemonic “CRASH” which gives helpful advice for the rider if they themselves come across a road traffic collision.

“Such a simple thing as carrying the CRASH card could well enable us as a service to make more informed decisions regarding the treatment needed to a motorcycle collision or incident,” added Dr Hughes.

The CRASH card scheme is established in several areas in England, and is now being introduced in Wales for the first time.

President of the North Wales Motorcycle Alliance, Bill Brereton said: “We’re pleased to be able to introduce the CRASH card in Wales. It has been successfully introduced in parts of England and with the amount of motorcyclists in and visiting Wales it makes sense for this basic addition to be made available for a motorcyclists’ kit.

“Of course we’d be quite happy if the CRASH card never had to be used, but collisions do happen and if the information can help save someone’s life then it will be well worth the effort.”

“We would like to thank Conwy Motorcycle Club, North Wales Advanced Motorcyclists, Lara Bimble, the Welsh Ambulance Service and Ambulance Motorcycle Club for their support.”

Paul Cheshire, Bikesafe Coordinator for North Wales Police added: “Bikesafe are pleased to support this development. It is yet another good example of partnership working and we hope that many riders will take advantage of this opportunity.”

Council keeps a close eye on beauty sector

Staff from Denbighshire County Council are highlighting the work being carried out to regulate and monitor businesses involved in the beauty sector.

Environmental Health Officers in the Planning and Public Protection Department carry out regular inspections of sunbed parlours, beauty parlours and tattoo salons to make sure that they are safe and also that there are no risks to the health of customers.

The council also registers operators that want to get involved in tattooing, cosmetic piercing, semi-permanent tattoo, electrolysis and acupuncture.

Essentially, the council licences them after they can prove their premises is suitable and they are competent people to offer the treatment.

The council says it would always advise the public to:

· Check and ask to see whether the business is registered with the council to carry out the treatment. The business should be able to show you a certificate issued by Denbighshire County Council. You can also check with the Food and Health & Safety Team to see whether they are registered.

· Never use a non-registered operator. This increases the risk of potentially serious health problems following the treatment for example skin infections, Hepatitis B & C and HIV if the sterilisation procedures are not good enough. Avoid going to someone who has bought a tattooing kit over the internet and has never had any training to make sure it is done safely.

· Let the council know if people are carrying out unregistered treatments at home, so that we can investigate the issue and possibly avoid people being harmed or becoming ill.

· Make sure you get good advice from businesses before and after your treatment, including how to minimise the risk of a skin infection.

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member with responsibility for Public Protection, said: "Businesses are advised to contact the Council for advice and to register. There are new byelaws in place to regulate the industry and the Council are inspecting businesses, following-up complaints and taking action if there are serious risks identified.

"The use of sun beds is always in the news and officers carry out regular inspections and secret shopper visits to ensure that the business is supervised by a trained person, that health advice is provided to members of the public and that no-one under 18 years of age receives any treatment.

"More secret shopper visits are planned over the next year and enforcement will be taken against salons that do not meet the standards.”

Letter from chair of Keep Llangollen Special

Mike Edwards, chair of the group Keep Llangollen Special, has sent in this letter concerning the ongoing saga of the future of health service in the town:

"Speaking recently Mary Burrows the CEO of Betsi Cadwaladr talking about the Woodlands(Riverside Lodge) site said: 'No decision has yet been made. We still have to make a decision whether we want to build a facility in Llangollen. It may be the preferred site if such a facility was built, but we need to establish need and engage with the community before that. There is a formal process that we have to follow.'

"This clearly shows that despite the fact that Community Hospital will close early in 2013 Llangollen is not certain to have a replacement Health Centre be it in 2015 or whenever! Mary Burrows is now talking about "ESTABLISHING NEED" despite assurances she previously gave in correspondence to Ken Skates AM.

"This heightens KLS' concerns about the Health Boards proposals which will lead to increased vehicle journeys for patients and their families. This is clearly in breach of Welsh Government's sustainability policies.

"We would be grateful if you could bring this to the attention of residents, please?"
 
Mike Edwards
 

Water waste of a precious resource

* The drinking water gushes into the canal.

A novel way of topping up the Llangollen Canal seems to have been discovered.

Yesterday (Thursday) afternoon one of the service points supplying utilities to boats tying up on the stretch after the wharf in the direction of Fron was freely gushing gallons of drinking water – straight into the canal beside it.

One wonders how long it had been leaking in this way and why something had not been done to stop it.

There was a yellow and black tape tied around it, so somebody in charge of the canal must have known something about it.

There’s clearly no shortage of water here.

But who is paying for it, llanblogger wonders.

If the new Canals and Rivers Trust which is in now charge of the canal cares to explain we'd be delighted to publish their reply.

 

Police get heavy with metal thieves

Operation Tornado is being launched across Wales in a bid to crack down on metal theft.

All four Welsh Police Forces are taking part in the operation, which has already seen successes in other parts of the UK.

All scrap metal dealers in Wales will be approached and encouraged to part in a scheme where they only buy scrap metal from individuals that are able to provide photographic proof of their identity.

This will include either a photo card driving licence including an address, or a passport or national ID card supported by a utility bill, which must be under three months old and show their address.

In local authority areas where ID schemes are already established for itinerant collectors, then this will also include a local authority issued photo ID card.

The operation is being spearheaded by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and British Transport Police.

In the North East of England, the theft of metal fell by around a half following the introduction of Operation Tornado.

Detective Inspector Mark Cleland, of British Transport Police, said: "We will be working with scrap metal dealers to enforce this code of conduct until legislation kicks in later in the year. We want to work with them to professionalise the industry and target the people who are dealing in criminal acquisition of property."

Detective Superintendent Russell Tiley from Gwent Police, who is the Welsh representative on the National Metal Theft Working Group, said: “This latest operation is just one of many tactics that we are employing to tackle the theft of metal. We hope that all scrap metal dealers in Wales will sign up to the scheme to help make it difficult for thieves to sell on any scrap metal that they have stolen.”

Anyone who has any information about metal thefts, or those involved in this criminality, to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Focus falls on our historic gems

We now have some additional information about events taking place as part of the Llangollen Open Doors Weekend, organised by Llangollen Civic Society, this Saturday and Sunday, September 8 and 9.

These are:

Town Hall:

10am to 4pm both days

Exhibitions

The History and Restoration of the Chain Bridge.

“Web of Iron” – history of suspension bridges featuring the Chain Bridge.

* The Chain Bridge.

The Three (local) Bards – by Hanes in conjunction with a new bi-lingual book.

Remembering those locally who made the sacrifice in WW1 and WW2.

The River Dee – a photographic and hangings display courtesy of The Fringe.

There will also be a talk on the History of the Royal International Eisteddfod at 12.00 noon.

On Sunday at 3 pm the Silver Band will be playing outside. 

Eliseg’s Pillar

10am to 5pm both days

You are welcome to visit the site to observe this year’s archaeological dig.

On Saturday there will be guided tours between 3 and 5 pm. 

Llangollen Museum

10am to 5pm both days.

Exhibition on the History of Plas Newydd from the Ladies to today.

There is also a new exhibition from the archive of H. Hugh Jones, Headmaster of the County School, 1919 to 1937.

* Llangollen Museum.

Holy Cross Church

10.30am to 4pm both days.

Exhibition of the History of the Catholic Church in Llangollen. 

Llantysilio Church

10.30am to 4pm both days

 

St John’s Church

10.30am to 4.30pm both days

Exhibition – An Illustrated History of Llangollen’s Churches & Chapels.

There will also be access to Digitised Parish Records of Llangollen (i.e. Baptisms, Marriages and Burials from 1837).

Cemetery Records.  Grave and Monument records for St John’s, Fron, Penybryn and Garth 

Y Capel

9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday

10.00am to 4.30pm Sunday

Exhibition Conservation, Adoration and Information – the History of the Building.

Family History Sessions throughout the day, using Internet Sources, Ancestry and Find my Past.

Get your council tax bills by e-mail

Residents in Denbighshire can now receive their council tax bills via e-mail.

Denbighshire County Council has been looking at ways of finding more efficient and effective ways of distributing council tax bills, whilst looking at reducing costs, and has now arranged for any resident wishing to receive their bills via e-mail to do so in future.

Residents wanting to take up this offer should e-mail their name, address and council tax reference number to: revenues@denbighshire.gov.uk

On receipt of this request, all future bills would be sent via their email address until advised otherwise.

For further information, telephone: (01824) 706443, 706456, 706468, 706315, 706338, 706428