Ligature awareness training is specifically designed for support staff who are supporting children, young people and adults
who are at risk of attempting suicide or self-harm by a number of means including the application of a ligature.
This is a practical course and learners will gain practical skills and knowledge to recognise self-harm and ligature injuries,
undertake a ligature risk assessment, treat a casualty, safely remove someone from suspension and remove a ligature
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
• Understand the definitions relating to the management of ligature risks.
• Understand the background and trends in suicide and self-harm behaviours.
• Understand how to undertake a ligature risk assessment
• Identify potential ligatures and ligature anchor point risks.
• Understand the use of ligature cutters approved by the Organisation.
• Execute the appropriate post-incident actions after ligature incidents (including BLS if necessary)
• Understand psychological wellbeing and preserving forensic evidence
The session will cover:
What is a ligature and the 5 main ligature points
An overview of Suicide Risk and statistics
What happens during ligature strangulation and recognise the signs and symptoms of ligature injuries
Ligature Risk Assessment: (The Mental Health and Learning Disability Nurse Directors Forum's ligature point assessment
template and organisations own risk assessment)
• Why do we have an assessment and content of an environmental risk assessment
• Frequency of assessment and audit
• How to undertake and assessment
• Practical Identification of potential ligature points and types of ligature.
Mitigation of risks
• Identification of ligature points and implementing control measures.
• Anti-ligature devices
Safe use of ligature removal cutters and practice with these to remove ligatures
• Storage and maintenance of cutters
Demonstrate safe removal from suspensions and manual handling techniques
Post-ligature Procedures i.e. the need for first aid includes practice of CPR, preservation of the scene and incident
recording/ debriefing. (this includes practice of CPR or a full BLS course)