All posts by Ryan Davis Philip

 

Canberra First Aid New Mandatory Requirement to Wear Masks

Hi All,

At a press conference this afternoon (27th June 2021), Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced the mandatory requirement for wearing of face masks indoors in the ACT.

Our advice is that our students are included in this requirement.

 

https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/act-status-and-response/face-masks

 

From midnight tonight all students will be required to wear face masks whilst inside our facilities. If you do not wear a face mask you will not be able to attend your session.

Canberra First Aid staff will NOT be required to wear masks whilst training due to the following point:

  • Clear enunciation or visibility of the person’s mouth is essential

This is the first time that the ACT Government has demanded the mandatory wearing of masks.

 

There is a 48 hours window for compliance.

 

Our intention is to keep you updated on this ever evolving situation and any changes to the above.

 

Take care all.

Kind regards

Canberra First Aid

 

CPR TRAINING

CPR TRAINING AND CPD FOR DOCTORS, NURSES, AND OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

RACGP

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) state that GPs need to complete CPR training every three years. This is the minimum requirement to meet CPD and the standards.

Canberra First Aid nationally recognised CPR courses, officially known as HTLAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, meet the requirements by RACGP to be counted towards the BLS/CPR CPD requirement for the 2020-2022 triennium.

Our courses follow Australian Resuscitation Council Guidelines, include the use of an AED (defibrillator) and are typically a minimum 2-hour course. We offer different delivery options involving a combination of online learning and face-to-face learning. However, training cannot be completely completed online as there will always be mandatory practical tasks that must be performed in front of a trainer.

After successful completion of this course, GPs will be awarded 5 CPD points, and the course also meets the 3 yearly CPR/BLS requirement.

Further information can be found here on the RACGP website.

To claim the CPD points for your CPR course, all you need to do it submit your CPR certificate (statement of attainment) via your CPD dashboard or send the certificate to RACGP direct.

AHPRA

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) works with the 15 National Boards to regulate Australian health professionals. This covers a range of health professionals including chiropractors, dentists, nurses and midwives, occupational therapists, optometrists, osteopaths, pharmacists, physiotherapist, podiatrists, psychologists, and others. All these professions have CPD requirements that they must meet.

According to Ahpra, CPD is how members maintain, improve, and broaden their knowledge, expertise, and competence, and develop the personal and professional qualities needed throughout their professional lives.

The Optometry Board states that you must have completed training for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) within the previous three registration periods. Similar requirements apply for other health professionals.

To find out more about each boards requirement please visit the relevant boards website.

NURSES AND MIDWIVES

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) also require its members to participate in annual continuing professional development (CPD).

This involves nurses and midwives to complete a minimum number of hours directly relevant to a nurse or midwife’s context of practice. Our HTLAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation courses can count towards nurse CPD.

GROUP BOOKINGS FOR PD OPPORTUNITIES

Canberra First Aid is experienced at arranging group professional development sessions to deliver CPR Training. These sessions involve the delivery of the nationally recognised unit (HLTAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) course by a suitable qualified training professional and are often accompanied by a networking session for the participants. If required, we can also arrange catering for these events.

Our team can work with your organisation to arrange a tailored session that suits your cohort.

Please get in touch with our team to see how we can assist your group with the professional development requirements. www.canberrafirstaid.com 

 

Student Feedback

WE APPRECIATE YOUR STUDENT FEEDBACK

Student Feedback has always been an integral part of our business plan and efforts to build our capacity. As an small business and with many trainers we certainly appreciate when students take the time and share their experience through their comments as a valuable way to improve our training delivery, service and the quality of training resources.

We have recently upgraded our Training Desk Platform to invite our students to complete an optional student feedback form online prior to receiving their certificate, this is so we can listen, learn and value your training experience with us.

This is a valuable resource for our Trainers who have full access to these surveys. These surveys provide a solid foundation to monitor student feedback for each course, and each trainer who delivers the course. Partners are then able to benchmark student feedback and improve the student course experience.

Make sure you check our google reviews.

We thank you once again for your ongoing support for our first aid training company.

 

 

Information on caronavirus from Canberra First Aid

ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING COVID-19

ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING COVID-19

We are back training first aid courses in Canberra!!!

At a press conference this afternoon (12th August 2021), Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced the mandatory requirement for wearing of face masks indoors in the ACT.

Our advice is that our students are included in this requirement.

 

https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/act-status-and-response/face-masks

 

From 5pm tonight all students will be required to wear face masks whilst inside our facilities. If you do not wear a face mask you will not be able to attend your session.

Canberra First Aid staff will also wear masks whilst training.

Our intention is to keep you updated on this ever evolving situation and any changes to the above.

Due to the Covid19 virus we have taken measures to ensure the safety of our staff and local Canberra community. This being said we have have actively built a new online training method. 

We are putting your best interests at the forefront and have increased the pre course online training aspect of the course so that you only need to attend a short face to face component of less than 60 minutes. This will be with 1 trainer and 5 participants.

 

ENHANCED HYGIENE MEASURES

  • Mandatory CBR Covid 19 check in app usage.
  • All participants will have to wear masks.
  • Course participants with signs of respiratory infections (flu-like symptoms, fever, cough, sore throat) will NOT be permitted to participate in assessment sessions.
  • All participants are to strictly adhere to Government social distancing requirements (standing 1.5m apart, no more than 1 person per 4 sqm).
  • All participants are asked to practice good hygiene, especially the cleaning of hands.
  • Mouth to mouth breaths will NOT be performed. Instead breaths will be demonstrated using bag valve mask resuscitators (BVM’s).
  • Antibacterial cleaning wipes, or spray will be used to clean equipment between participants.
  • Single-use bandages will be supplied. Bandaging will be applied to manikins or self-applied, not to other class members.
  • Recovery position will be demonstrated on manikins, not on other class members.
  • Assessment stations will be thoroughly cleaned between students.

The measures we have taken exceed government requirements, and we believe they are necessary in order to ensure the safety of our staff and the entire Canberra community.

 

So now is the time Canberra. Book in to a first aid course here.

 

Slip And Fall

German court rules teachers must carry out first aid

First Aid Training in Canberra. Excellent Trainers. The Best Training in Phillip, Woden, Dickson and Griffith. CPR Training Included.

The case concerned a student who became severely disabled after collapsing in gym class. He sued, arguing his teacher should have done first aid. Germany’s highest criminal court ruled in his favor, but only to a point.

 

Gym teachers must use first aid in the event of an emergency and they must be up-to-date on techniques, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) ruled on Thursday.

The case involved a young man who sued the German state of Hesse after he collapsed in gym class and became severely disabled. The state previously argued that the teacher was not liable, but Germany’s highest criminal court disagreed.

What the court ruled:
  • Physical education or gym teachers are obligated to carry out first aid “in a timely and proper manner.”
  • The teacher in the case was found to have violated her official duties by not attempting to resuscitate the student.
  • The BGH overturned two lower court decisions that ruled in favor of the state and the teacher.
  • Although the court ruled in the student’s favor, he will have to prove that the lack of first aid caused his disability in order to secure damages.

The right way to administer first aid

Collapse in gym class

In January 2013, an 18-year-old student at a high school in the German city of Wiesbaden suddenly collapsed during a warm-up at his gym class.

The teacher quickly called for an ambulance and positioned the boy on his side. She did not, however, attempt to revive him and CPR was only delivered eight minutes later when the ambulance arrived at the school.

The student, who is now 24-years-old, ended up suffering irreversible brain damage due to a lack of oxygen and is now severely disabled.

He and his family sued the teacher’s employer, the state of Hesse, arguing that the first aid measures were insufficient. They demanded at least €500,000 in pain and suffering damages, €100,000 for material damages as well as a monthly pension of €3,000 as well as a promise that the state of Hesse will pay for future costs.

 

CPR

Deliveroo on track to deliver first-aid in Hong Kong

First Aid Course in Canberra. Excellent Training Provider with Nationally Recognised Certificate. Great CBD Location. Free Parking.

In case of emergencies, people in reflective jackets – who you might expect are only delivering a food order – could also help the needy with newly acquired first-aid skills.

Some 150 Deliveroo riders and walkers in Hong Kong are among the first in the Asia Pacific region to be offered 15 free first-aid training classes administered by Hong Kong Red Cross in April.

In August 2018 Deliveroo UK pushed first-aid education after research commissioned by the British Red Cross reported that only 5% of the 2,000 respondents in the United Kingdom said they would feel knowledgeable, confident and willing to act in emergencies

The situation is just as severe in Hong Kong as first aid is yet to be mandatory in school curriculum, leaving members of the public to depend on the government’s emergency services.

On April 17, a class of riders and walkers had a taste of their upcoming first aid training by attending a demonstration session at Hong Kong Red Cross Headquarters

In the first example, a passer-by was said to have sustained a minor cut on the right forearm. Leung Yiu-wah, chairman of First Aid Advisory Panel at Hong Kong Red Cross, and one of the providers of the Deliveroo course, showed how to handle the incident.

“First, stay calm and check scene safety. Second, check for patient’s response, and reassure him that you could offer him help as you have learned first aid,” said Leung.

Putting on a pair of medical gloves for personal protection, Leung said some sterilised gauze should be pressed on the wound with direct pressure to stop the bleeding. The injured limb should be elevated with an arm sling using a triangular bandage.

“We encourage everyone in Hong Kong to enhance their own first aid education,” said Leung Yiu-wah, chairman of First Aid Advisory Panel, Hong Kong Red Cross, who is performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Photo: Deliveroo Hong Kong Two demonstrations were given on how to handle a situation where a person became unresponsive with no breathing or no pulse. Leung performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the first case, and CPR with the application of an automated external defibrillator (AED) in the second case.

Deliveroo riders and walkers are listening attentively to HKRC instructors demonstrating CPR and AED. Photo: Deliveroo Hong Kong

Despite being only two hours long, the training program, which has been tailor-made and standardised for Deliveroo, equips learners with basic life support skills and is a stepping stone to advanced skills, said Barbara Tai, Manager (First Aid Training) at HKRC.

“Participants are also encouraged to do other first-aid courses, for example, a standard first-aid certificate course and first-aid workshop for road safety as top-up,” added Tai.

Trained Deliveroo riders and walkers not only benefit personally from their new knowledge, they also improve public safety as they move around the city where emergencies could happen at any time.

Rider Ng Wai-kit said the training program attracted him because of its meaning and usefulness. Although he has not come across any emergencies yet, he now feels he is prepared if anything comes up that requires his knowledge.

Tom Cheng, head of operations for Deliveroo, said that life comes first, regardless of the delivery.

“It is more than welcome when a rider or walker can put their skills into practical use, and that is the reason for the program. They need not worry too much as they could always keep the customers service center informed and other arrangements could be sorted out,” Cheng said.

 

CPR

Dad’s warning about first aid training after daughter chokes

First Aid Course Canberra. Excellent Trainers. Free First Aid Manual. Great Locations with Free Parking. Book in Today so you can Save a Life.

Written by Amy Lyall

Nine.com.au

Muscle memory from a first aid course is what Scottish politician Alex Cole-Hamilton believes saved his daughter’s life.

The father-of-three shared a harrowing warning to parents on Twitter about choking after his four-year-old daughter swallowed a coin.

“Last night I resuscitated my four-year-old daughter, Darcy, after she swallowed a coin,” he explained in the thread.

Cole-Hamilton says he had left Darcy watching YouTube on Saturday night while handing over the last details to the babysitter before heading out to meet his wife at an event.

“She just made this sort of strangled cry, and I dashed through and caught her saying the words ‘I’ve swallowed a coin’. Then she stopped breathing and changed colour,” he told Inews.

View image on TwitterView image on Twitter

Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP@agcolehamilton

Not your average Saturday night. I had to partially resuscitate Darcy (4) after she swallowed a coin. Blue lighted to Sick Kids and had coin (E50 cents) removed under general anaesthetic. Staff have been wonderful and so good to Darcy. Heroes all.

232 people are talking about this

Continuing the Twitter thread, he explained he had to “partially resuscitate” his daughter.

“When she stopped breathing, a half remembered first aid course from over 25yrs ago snapped into place- I inverted her, slapped her back with an open palm 5 times until she was sick & coin moved enough to open her air way before ambulance arrived & blue lighted us to the Sick Kids,” he wrote.

Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP@agcolehamilton

This is a hard thread to write. It isn’t a political post. It’s got nothing to do with my job. But it’s important to me to share it tonight.

Last night I resuscitated my 4 year old daughter, Darcy after she swallowed a coin.

Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP@agcolehamilton

When she stopped breathing, a half remembered first aid course from over 25yrs ago snapped into place- I inverted her, slapped her back with an open palm 5 times until she was sick & coin moved enough to open her air way before ambulance arrived & blue lighted us to the Sick Kids

80 people are talking about this

Darcy was raced into surgery where the coin was removed under general anaesthetic.

“Staff have been wonderful and so good to Darcy. Heroes all,” Cole-Hamilton continued.

Despite the scary situation, Darcy is recovering well, but the incident made a lot of people realise that they have no first-aid skills for a situation like this.

Dad's warning about first aid training after daughter chokes on a coin
Darcy is recovering well at home after the scary ordeal. (Twitter)

“So many concerned friends who’ve phoned or visited today have said that they’d never received any training like that. So I’m going to start working with charities and first aid groups to build awareness of how easy it is to learn basic first aid. You can be that first responder,” he tweeted.

Cole-Hamilton wants other parents to be able to act quickly in similar situations in future because it can mean the difference between life and death.

If you would like to learn more about first aid courses across Australia, head to the St John Ambulance website for more information.

In an emergency situation call 000 and follow the instructions given by a trained professional.

 

Asthma Boy

First aid basics for your adventure in the wilderness

First Aid Course Canberra. Excellent Provider of Training. Free First Aid Manual. Great Trainers. Excellent Location.

By Alisha McDarris February 14, 2019

A twisted ankle waiting to happen.

Pixabay

Injuries on the trail are common, be they banalities like blisters or lacerations from overgrown foliage, or serious concerns like dislocated shoulders while rock-climbing or snake bites. Outdoor lovers know the wilderness comes with risk of bodily injury. But those who know best venture boldly into the wild prepared with a knowledge of what to do if harm should befall them.

There’s no guarantee that Google will be there to help when gashes, scrapes, or broken bones arise, and medical help isn’t always just a phone call or car ride away. The best medicine for any type of injury is preparedness, so it’s important to know what to keep in your pack for everything from a day hike to a month-long sojourn, plus how to treat common injuries and frequent misconceptions about wilderness first aid.

first aid kit

Your first aid kit need not be as big as this.

Pixabay

First aid to pack for your next outdoor adventure

The length and remoteness of your trip—a well-worn day hike trail? unmarked wilderness?—will dictate what you should put in your pack. Climate, altitude, and destination will play a part, too, but chances are, you won’t need bottles of antiseptic and a full splint kit if you’ll only be gone a few hours and the trail is easily accessible from major roads. Likewise, you should bring more than a few adhesive bandages and aspirin if you’ll be away from civilization for a days or weeks.

Tod Schimelpfenig, Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine and curriculum director at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Wilderness Medicine department, suggests starting with a small kit. Most of the time, the kind you can get at your local outdoor store will suffice. But if you prefer to build your own kit, he suggests packing a pair of nitrile or latex gloves, antiseptic ointmentbandagesgauze, larger dressings, an Ace wraptweezers to remove splinters, and a blister care kit.

For longer treks, the kit Schimelpfenig recommends is similar, but more robust. “Safety pins are always helpful,” Schimelpfenig adds. Transparent dressings come in handy, too and for blisters, nothing acts like a protective second skin like kinesthesiology tape. But his number one recommendation: consider what can go wrong and what access you’ll have to medical attention, cell service, or fellow hikers. “Prevention and planning can go a long way,” he says.

As for the bulky extras, while some find packing triangle bandages and splint kits bring peace of mind, Schimelpfenig prefers to improvise with items like handkerchiefs and tree branches, things he likely already has in his pack or can easily find on the trail.

roll of gauze

Ace wrap comes in handy for pains, sprains, and strains that pop up on the trail.

Pixabay

Common wilderness injuries

Seasoned hikers aren’t often worried about snake bites and bear attacks; they know these sorts of encounters are rare at best. But broken bones, sprains, dislocations, cuts, and scrapes can pose risks that are just as serious if left untreated. According to Schimelpfenig, “There are some fundamental skills that you can learn that will help take care of people and possibly save their lives.”

The most common injuries in the wilderness are cuts and lacerations. While you might just throw a bandage on it and call it a day when you slice your shin in your own backyard, don’t underestimate how easily a small wound can become infected and cause much larger problems.

“Keeping wounds clean is difficult in the wilderness,” Schimelpfenig says. To do so, first, stop the bleeding and evaluate the situation. Is it over a joint, does it gape open, is it showing underlying structures? If so, time to call it a day and get to a doctor. If it’s small and non life-threatening, irrigate the wound with water that’s safe to drink and thoroughly clean out any debris or foreign particles. Add antiseptic and dress it with the appropriate bandage. Change the dressing and check for infection (swelling, redness or pus) every 24-48 hours.

For other injuries and accidents, Schimelpfenig recommends taking a wilderness first aid course through NOLS or at a local outdoor center. Proper training will not only teach you how to wrap a twisted ankle, dress a wound, and immobilize broken bones, but also introduce life-saving skills like administering CPR, stopping excessive bleeding, and maintaining an open airway. They also instill confidence and resourcefulness, which are necessities in the backcountry, Schimelpfenig says.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Snake bites are rare, but here’s how you to handle the problem if it happens to you. Also did you know that certain weather makes it more likely you’ll be bit by a rattlesnake?

Pixabay

Common misconceptions about wilderness first aid

There’s nearly as much bad advice regarding wilderness first aid as there is good advice. You need to know the difference. You may have heard that sucking venom out of a snake bite or giving the bite area a mild shock will slow the spread of the poison. Unfortunately, the only remedy for snake bites is anti-venom, so don’t bother with other remedies; the sooner you can get to the hospital, the better.

Likewise, tourniquets often get a bad rap for doing more harm than good, but Schimelpfenig says otherwise: it’s a very effective method of stopping life-threatening bleeding. “Tourniquets save lives,” he says. “Limbs are not automatically sacrificed when a tourniquet is applied.” But do reserve the technique for severe bleeding only.

rescue helicopter

If the worse-case scenario should happen, you’ll be glad you packed your satellite phone or personal locator beacon.

Pixabay

What to do with serious injuries on the trail

“The more remote you are, the more training you should have,” Schimelpfenig says. While most outdoorsy individuals can benefit from a 16-hour wilderness first aid course, those venturing far into the woods or the mountains may want to consider something closer to a 40-hour wilderness first aid or 80-hour wilderness first responder course. The longer you’re out there and the farther away from civilization, the longer you’ll have to care for yourself or someone else.

The first step involves being able to recognize threats to life, like obstructed airways, breathing problems, cardiac arrest, severe bleeding, or anaphylaxis. Recognize the signs and prioritize those issues so that you can thoughtfully and confidently address the major issue first while also considering secondary injuries that may cause discomfort, but aren’t life-threatening.

Lastly, be cognizant of where you’re going and what types of communication might be available or recommended. If you know you won’t have service, is the area where you’re hiking well-traveled? If so, even if you do get injured, there’s a good chance someone will pass by eventually. If not, consider packing a device like a satellite phone or personal locator beacon to call for help if you or a companion need it.

With the right training and gear, you can boldly embark upon the wilderness adventures of your dreams and be prepared for just about anything, come hell, high water, or twisted ankle.

 

CPR

First aid training, flotation devices key to adapting impulse to rescue someone drowning

First Aid Course Canberra. Book today. $95 Special Rate. Excellent Trainers. Emergency Experience. Great Course Location.

ABC Radio Sydney
By Amanda Hoh
3 Jan 2019, 8:00am

A surf lifesaver keeps watch
PHOTO: It’s always best to swim at patrolled locations.(AAP: Simon Renilson)

The moment you see a person drowning is shocking and comes without warning, but without a plan, the impulse to go to their rescue can be deadly.

The Royal Life Saving Society of Australia (RLSSA) says there has already been 48 drowning deaths reported this summer compared to 31 at the same time a year ago.

In research conducted by the RLSSA, a quarter of the 90 cases it studied involved the death of a person trying to rescue someone else.

“We want to applaud the people who attempt to save a life,” said Professor John Pearn, the national medical director at RLSSA.

“But the only way to overcome the courageous impulse, often with these fatal results, is with prior training.

“Encouraging every parent, every person to learn first aid and basic rescue techniques — we know if we do that, we’ll reduce this tragic secondary phenomenon.”

How to perform CPR on a baby


Here are the steps to perform resuscitation on a baby under 12 months.

Plan ahead

Always swim in a patrolled location and between the red and yellow flags at the beach, Steven Pearce, chief executive of Surf Life Saving NSW, advised.

However if you choose not to, Mr Pearce advised to always plan ahead, bring a flotation device (surfboard, boogie board, pool noodle, etc) with you and check that you have mobile phone reception.

If you see someone struggling, alert a lifeguard if you are at a patrolled location and then call triple-0.

People swimming.
PHOTO: The attraction of secluded swimming spots can be dangerous. (ABC News: Stephanie Dalzell)

Always use a flotation device

Many bystander fatalities occurred when someone swam to a person in need, became exhausted, and then the panicked victim climbed all over them, Mr Pearce said.

He acknowledged that it was hard to advise parents against entering the water if a child was in trouble.

“It’s so difficult to tell a parent never save their child — that’s why you need to have a plan,” he said.

“You shouldn’t try and effect a rescue yourself unless you have an idea of your own swimming ability or have a flotation device.

“You’ve really got to think, ‘If I’m going to do this, I need something to keep the person and myself afloat whether that’s a surfboard, a boogie board, even an esky’.”

The RLSSA’s mantra is to shout, reach, wade, throw or row to somebody in the water, be that throwing a tied group of shirts or a hose or reaching out with a rake or lifeline of some sort.

How to perform CPR:

  • Call triple-0 and yell for help, both with the CPR and to find the nearest defibrillator
  • Start hands-only CPR — push hard and fast with the heel of your hand in the centre of the person’s chest
  • Aim for around two chest presses a second (pressing to the beat of the Bee Gees hit Stayin’ Alive is a good guide)
  • Don’t stop. Most people run out of steam after about two minutes, so keep yelling for help while doing compressions
  • Attach defibrillator pads to the person’s chest. The machine will give voice instructions for you to follow
  • Once you’ve shocked the heart to restart it, continue CPR until breathing resumes or paramedics arrive

Try and stay calm

If you have a flotation device and have swum to the victim, pass the device between the two of you and tell them to hold on to it.

If the victim is a toddler or young child, get them onto the flotation device as quickly as possible.

Try and alert others who can help such as a surfer or people on a nearby boat.

Once back on land, ensure triple-0 has been contacted and start first aid procedures.

If they are breathing, place the person in the recovery position.

If they are not breathing, commence CPR.

Topics:

 
disasters-and-accidentstravel-health-and-safetysafety,healthsydney-2000

 

Slip And Fall

Nick Kyrgios was hospitalised with a spider bite over Christmas

First Aid Course. Action Packed Training Session. Nationally Recognised Training. Experienced Trainers.

This is not how Nick Kyrgios would have envisaged spending his Christmas ahead of a busy summer of tennis and a title defence.

Laine Clark, AAP
AAP DECEMBER 28, 2018 4:43PM

John McEnroe reveals thoughts on Nick Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios is set to fly into Queensland to prepare for his Brisbane International title defence after spending Christmas in hospital nursing a spider bite.

Organisers said Kyrgios, 23, was on track to arrive in Brisbane on Friday after the tennis star revealed on social media he had a far from festive time during the holidays.

World No.35 Kyrgios had to be treated in a Canberra hospital over Christmas after being bitten on the foot.

“Got a spider bite on my foot. Christmas different every year,” Kyrgios posted on Instagram.

The former world No.13 also added a picture of him with an intravenous drip with the caption: “This spider bite outta control.”

Instagram image of Nick Kyrgios in hospital after a spider bite
Instagram image of Nick Kyrgios in hospital after a spider biteSource:No Source

Organisers were confident the hospital visit would not derail Kyrgios’ preparations, saying his Brisbane International plans were still in place.

Kyrgios is the eighth seed at the Brisbane International which starts on Sunday.

He is hoping to bounce back in 2019 after his ranking slipped from world No.21 to 35.

Kyrgios began the year in style by claiming the Brisbane crown in January — his fourth career title — when he defeated American Ryan Harrison in the final.

However, it was his only tournament triumph in 2018.

He entered 16 events but after his Brisbane win only advanced past the round of 16 four times — none at a grand slam.

His frustrating season ended abruptly in October due to a recurring elbow injury, forcing his withdrawal from Moscow’s Kremlin Cup.