In May 2019, Derek was on his farm and had just received a fresh batch of chickens. Derek’s son Ben, then aged 6, was excited about seeing the new chickens so, had come with his dad to have a look.

On the way down to the chicken house, Derek stopped at the slurry tank so that he could make the arrangements to leave it mixing while he and Ben moved on the see the chickens. Whilst at the slurry tank, Derek moved Ben to a safe area and distance out to the street, whilst he worked for a couple of minutes.

Derek remembers it being a nice calm day weather wise with no breeze.

After two minutes Derek checked on Ben only to find him walking towards him with a cut on his head. Derek’s first thought was that Ben had fallen and had hit his head so, lifted and started carrying Ben towards the house to get the cut seen to.

At that point however, Ben’s eyes started rolling in his head and after Derek placed his son on the ground, Derek also realised that his son wasn’t breathing. Ben had been overcome by the fumes from the slurry tank.

Fortunately, Derek had been on a first aid awareness course a couple of years prior to that so, started doing CPR right away. It took roughly about one and a half minutes before Ben thankfully started breathing again.

Derek’s message to everyone, but particularly the farming community knowing the everyday dangers that exist in this high risk environment, is to avail of the free first aid training being offered by CAFRE at present, through their Farm Family Key Skills initiative.

In Derek’s own words:

"Knowing what to do in those few minutes saved my son’s life and I would never have forgiven myself if I hadn’t been able to save him"

CAFRE’s free first aid training, being delivered by their training partners Global Horizon Skills Ltd, is now available via an online evening session, easily accessible by all the family via Zoom, in the comfort of your own home.

To find out more, please contact Colette on Tel: 028 822 50544 or email colette@ghskills.com

or Catherine on catherine@ghskills.com

Over the past three years, GH Skills have excelled foremost in developing a long term working relationship with Andras House. In this time, they have delivered several NVQ courses at levels two and three, enabling many of our staff to avail of subsidised and cost-effective work-based courses.

Three years on, GH Skills have become our partner in the development and delivery of our Supervisory Development Programme for Aspiring Leaders as a key element within our Andras House Academy.

Hereafter, we envisage GH Skills playing a key role in the delivery of funded and cost-effective training solutions as part of our continued growth and development as a company. 

Andras House Hotel Group

We have used Global Horizons over the past few years for statutory health and safety training and have found the quality of training/trainers to be excellent and to a very high standard. 

Participants have all agreed knowledge they have gained from training sessions has been exceptional and delivered in a friendly and positive learning environment.  The administration is straightforward and all in all, Global Horizons continues to offer a value for money training and support service.'

Julie Hetherington, Human Resources Manager
North-West News Group

“We have been using Global Horizon Skills regularly since 2015 and continue to be impressed with the efficient service they provide.  They have very professional and knowledgeable trainers and I feel they have added value to our company through the training they have provided to our staff.”

Jackie Elliott ACII, Director
Dickson & Co. Insurance