Ann McKillop

Ann has been working in the Scottish countryside for more than 30 years and has an extensive knowledge of the world of rangering, volunteering and conservation sectors. She is currently writing a book on the history of Countryside Rangers in Scotland. She has particular skills in event management, environmental education and has experience in the agriculture and forestry sectors including chainsaw, tractor and excavator work. Alongside training, Ann is also our chief content creator, keeping our blogs up to date. She also coordinates our healthcare courses from her office in Oban. Ann keeps active volunteering with the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance. She also plays percussion in a band so her lifestyle ranges from quiet outdoor pursuits to very very loud indoor ones!

A person floating on their back in open water

Cold Water Shock and Drowning: what you need to know – and do

Updated May, 2026 What is Cold Water Shock? Immersing yourself in cold water is an increasingly popular activity and being touted to provide many health benefits, but sudden immersion in cold water can be very dangerous. ‘Seasoned’ cold water swimmers enjoy repeated visits and as a result their body acclimatises to cold more readily. For others,

Cold Water Shock and Drowning: what you need to know – and do Read More »

A selection of different models of defibrillators or AEDs

20 FAQs about defibrillators

Defibrillators or AEDs are life saving devices that are now commonplace in our communities and workplaces. We use AED trainer devices on all of our courses and often get similar questions from our course participants. We’ve therefore put together this list of 20 of the most common questions to help explain and understand these life

20 FAQs about defibrillators Read More »

Gardening tools and tulips, first aid for gardeners is useful to know

First Aid for Gardeners

The benefits of gardening are not limited to fresh air and exercise but are also great for your mental health too. However, in our enthusiasm to tackle a big gardening job or our determination to get things finished, injuries often occur.  Here are our top tips for first aid for gardeners for dealing with or

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Doctor in scrubs giving a 'thumbs up'

Annual CPR / AED updates for Primary Care practices.

Since the introduction of the UK Resuscitation Council Primary Care Standards (2020) it is mandatory for annual updates of CPR/AED skills to be undertaken by clinical staff.  It is also recommended for non-clinical staff too. Resuscitation Council Guidelines, 2025: Guidelines are reviewed every 5 years and the latest review was published in October 2025 and

Annual CPR / AED updates for Primary Care practices. Read More »

An outdoor first aid kit with contents showing

First Aid Kit FAQs!

There’s always lots of questions about first aid kits on our courses – some legal, some practical and some related to hygiene. We’ve put together this blog to cover the most frequently asked quesitons about first aid kits. How do you keep your first aid kit clean? When an accident happens, you don’t want to

First Aid Kit FAQs! Read More »

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