What's NEW for 2026...?

Here's a bumper breakdown of all things Sports Trauma, FASE 1 & FASE 2 you can look forward to in 2026...

Wooden block countdown from 2025 to 2026 on a pink background

If you're a fan of all things Lubas Medical, you'll be happy to know you'll be seeing even more of us in 2026.

We're always looking to add value & support to our dedicated customers like you & help the next generation of medics in sport on the 1st steps of their journey into sport & exercise medicine.

So, here’s a sneak peak into some of our plans for the upcoming year…

Exciting improvements for 2026

We’re offering all of the following in the upcoming weeks & months…

All This & More…

These are just a few of the things we’re introducing for 2026.

We’ve taken your feedback on board to maximise what we offer & continue to support physios, sports therapists, sports masseurs, doctors, students, first aiders & every sports medic in between across the UK & beyond.

Thank you all for your continued support as we move into our 27th year providing Sports Trauma Management.

Whichever part of the journey you’re on, we’ll be there to support you through 2026!

See you all in 2026.

The Lubas Medical Team

Is Online Dental ILS Training Enough For My Team?

Your Dental CPD courses are essential but time consuming. So Online Training is a great solution...right?

Two hands holding an item of clothing showing the label one size fits none

Since COVID, everything that wasn't online certainly is now - your CPD training is no exception. But does that mean you don't need practical training anymore?

Well...not quite.

Let's look at online training as a whole...

Online Isn't The Ultimate Solution.

Online training lets you complete endless hours of quality CPD in the palm of your hand. It's accessible, cheap & easier to fit into your busy schedule.

But should it replace face-to-face training?

Learning about a topic is one thing, practising your skills in that topic in your clinic is something else.

Hand placing a coin in a pink piggy bank.

Online training is cheaper. But there's a reason for that.

It requires little man-power & offers skills to test" your knowledge in. That's great for simple training courses or to supporting more in-depth training.

But you can't deliver adrenaline or practice complex airway management through your computer screen. And you definitely can't physically practice CPR.

Dental specific ILS requires advanced airway management techniques that must be practised in person (ideally in your treatment room) in realistic scenarios.

So "No" to Online Training?

Also not quite true!

Practical training gives your team the opportunity to prepare in your practice, using the more complex airway techniques required for dental ILS training.

There are specific processes within Dental ILS that must be practised in person to achieve competence under pressure in a real scenario.

So what's the down side?

Time.

Practical dental ILS courses often range in time from 7 hours - to 2 days depending on the required content. You've got a busy practice to run & limited amounts of free time for your team to train.

Practical training is also more expensive than online training as it's more complex & requires a qualified instructor. There's no real substitute for practical training, but it can't be your only form of CPD.

So What Should You Do?

Both.

Blended learning is now the norm because you get the best of both worlds.

Any training that requires physical practice (administering injections/drugs, CPR, inserting airways etc) must be done practically to achieve competence throughout your team.

White head silhouette created with puzzle pieces

When it comes to dental ILS training, a short online course alone will not prepare you for a real-life emergency. You can gain the theory & knowledge, but without practice, you lack the confidence to perform.

Theoretical training completed online should compliment & support practical training between your annual sessions. You can then find more specific online training that focuses on an element of the practical course you may have learnt.

We always recommend completing the training you need to make your whole team confident rather than just doing the minimum required. Y

our patients depend on you to keep them safe - don't let them down.

We hope that helps you balance online & in-person training. But if you need any further help, please contact us

P.S. If you need Dental ILS training for your team, you can book here

Do I Need a Dental Specific ILS course?

Here's what you need to know about Dental ILS training in your practice.

There's lots of options when it comes to ILS training in your dental practice - but does your ILS need to be dental specific?

Tooth with question marking indicating question about dentistry

Why ILS?

ILS training is required for any dental practice delivering sedation. Your sedation team must all be trained in the advanced airway management techniques required in an emergency.

If you offer sedation in your practice, understanding the potential medical emergencies associated are vital.

But does your training have to be dental specific? It's a grey area so let's try & shed some light on it.

What's the Guidance?

The Intercollegiate Advisory Committee for Sedation in Dentistry (it just rolls off the tongue!) or IACSD provide the Standards for Conscious Sedation in the provision of Dental Care (another snappy title).

The standards should give you all you need to know about sedation & the training you need. But does it?

IACSD state that the entire sedation team must be trained in ILS as per Resuscitation Council UK guidance. They also state that you don't have to attend a Resus Council course & that dental specific equivalent ILS courses are also acceptable.

So you're still left asking...'WHAT SHOULD I DO?'.

We Still Haven't Answered the Question...

That's because, as usual, there isn't a single answer for everyone.

Ultimately, you don't have to do a dental specific ILS course. But consider some of the following questions before deciding:

It's all about feeling confident & prepared. You want to know that if something goes wrong, your team will work together to calmly & effectively manage the emergency right?

Training in your practice, with your team & your equipment is usually the best route to that outcome.

So what do we recommend?

Our Recommendation

We always recommend that any training you take should be completed to best prepare your team not to just tick the boxes.

Anything you can do to make your team feel more confident in an emergency at your practice will always be worth it should the worst happen.

Dental specific training will ensure you get training that's suited to you & your team. This will engage your team & give them a safe environment for asking all the question thy need to.

Ideally, ILS training that follows on from your CPR & Medical Emergencies would also be preferrable. One provider can maintain consistency through your training & get to know your team & how you operate.

The decision lies with you & what suits your team best. But if you're unsure or need any further guidance, get in touch - that's what we're here for!

P.S. If you're ready to book a Dental ILS course for your practice you can BOOK HERE

Why Do AED Pads Expire? The Shocking Truth.

Close up of Defibrillator "shock" button.

Actually, it's not that shocking...but it is the truth! Here's why your AED pads expire.

Not many things are more frustrating than your medical equipment & emergency drugs expiring.

You spend A LOT of money to keep your patients safe, but having to throw away equipment without it ever being opened is galling.

But why do those items expire?

It stands to reason that emergency drugs have expiries as they become less effective & sometimes dangerous over time.

But what about equipment? Surely there's no reason for AED pads to go out of date is there...?

Well actually, there's a perfectly good reason why they expire - let's see why...

The Lifespan of a Defib Pad

The pads that come with your AED are sealed in a packet & likely already attached to your defibrillator ready for use. But they can only be used once.

Once opened & used, they need to be disposed of due to (among other things) the adhesive gel that sticks the pads to a patient's chest losing it's stickiness.

After approximately 2 years, even without use, the gel begins to naturally break down, lose it's adhesion & potentially begin to peel away from the pad itself.

For a defibrillator to effectively analyse your patient, the pads must make a strong connection directly with their skin. If the adhesion of the pads has broken down, the AED won't be able to analyse the patient's heart rhythm effectively.

Using out of date pads reduces the chance of your defibrillator working effectively when you need it most. So assessing your AED regularly as part of your overall drug & equipment checks is absolutely essential.

All Is Not Lost

But before you throw away those expired paid - WAIT!

Rather than throw them away, you can help us to reduce waste!

Expired AED pads could be used for CPR & AED training. We're always happy to take out of date pads off your hands as we can often re-use them as part of your practice training scenarios with trainer AEDs.

If you have any out of date pads contact us & we can arrange collection or take them at your next CPR & Medical Emergencies training session.

P.S. - Need to book in your Dental CPR & Medical Emergency training? You can now complete your booking via our customer form HERE

3 Ways to Prepare For Medical Emergencies During Dental Sedation.

Is your dental team ready for sedation?

Insertion of an i-gel airway into a manikin

If you're utilising sedation in your practice, your team need to be fully prepared to meet your duty of care if your patient becomes unwell.

Serious about managing sedation?

Here are 3 areas to consider:

1. Increased Risk of Medical Emergencies

Your team needs to be able to manage the additional risks associated with sedation including: -

Your team must be confident & ready for such complications & fully understand their role in an emergency. To do this, they'll need regular, dental specific ILS (Immediate Life Support) training.

2. Additional ILS Training in Practice

As well as training in the delivery of sedation, your entire sedation team must have ILS training as per the Intercollegiate Advisory Committee on Sedation in Dentistry (IACSD) Standards for Conscious Sedation in the provision of Dental Care 2015.

As a professional dental team that cares for your patients, your training has to suit your environment. You need dental specific, scenario-based ILS training that prepares you for an emergency above the level of basic CPR & AED training.

Dental staff standing in a row smiling

Training should leave your team feeling confident & prepared for managing an emergency. There's specific equipment & techniques that must be practiced to achieve this including the use of oropharyngeal, nasopharyngeal & I-gel airways.

Understanding the role & responsibility of each member of the team is also key & should form part of your training. You should have dental specific, scenario-based ILS training that prepares your team for an emergency during conscious sedation in your setting.

Although Dental ILS training is annual, your team should complete training as regularly as is required to remain competent & confident to keep your patients safe.

3. Emergency Action Plan

Have you identified the risks & taken action to minimise them?

Review your practice response to a medical emergency & produce an emergency action plan that includes:

These Are Just the Basics

These are just some of the things you need to think about when delivering sedation. For more information, the IACSD provide guidance in all aspects of sedation in dentistry here.

P.S - If you need further information on ILS training for your dentistry team, we're here to help. Click Here to book or find out more.

Anaphylaxis v Swelling in Dentistry-Can You Tell the Difference?

3 ways to tell the difference between swelling from extraction vs anaphylaxis.

Purple-gloved hand holing an adrenaline auto-injector preparing to administeradrenaline

Picture the scene: Your patient's had a successful extraction but complains about some discomfort & swelling after completion. It's to be expected after the fairly brutal process & dose of anaesthetic.

But suddenly they start to sound raspy & before you know it, they're struggling to breathe.

Your patient has suffered an anaphylactic reaction & their life's now in your hands.

How were you to know? Could you have spotted the problem sooner?

How to Tell the Difference

You won't always be able to detect early subtle signs & symptoms of anaphylaxis immediately, but let's look at the key things to consider.

1. Localised v Systemic Swelling

Following an extraction or invasive dental work, patients might experience some swelling in & around the area it was carried out.

The key difference is that anaphylaxis a systemic reaction affecting multiple systems in the body. This often means swelling in other areas away from the site of treatment.

Look for puffiness & swelling around the eyes & lips externally - areas that shouldn't be affected by the treatment you've given.

2. Changes in the Skin

Following invasive treatment, your patient may experience some minor bruising or redness around the area of treatment.

The skin is another organ often affected by an anaphylactic reaction. A rash can be a common sign of anaphylaxis. This is something you can look out for particularly following local anaesthetic & may even appear as you assess the patient.

The rash is often raised hives (urticaria), red & very itchy/uncomfortable for the patient. It can be present all over the body but often on the patients hands, arms & face (particularly around the eyes).

3. Internal Discomfort

This will initially be the most difficult symptom to detect particularly following local anaesthetic. While numbness & some discomfort is expected, the airway & ability to breath shouldn't be affected.

Swelling of the tongue & airway is a serious sign of anaphylaxis especially if it affects the patient's ability to breathe. This can produce a rasping noise (stridor) from the upper airway. These aren't symptoms normally associated with dental treatment. The tongue may even protrude from the patient's mouth.

Difficulty breathing (or a wheeze) & a drop in blood pressure causing the patient to collapse are indicators of anaphylactic shock.

Key Take Away

It's important that all staff are familiar with the signs & symptoms of anaphylaxis & that drugs & equipment are quickly available to manage a reaction.

Your practice should have an emergency action plan identifying the actions to take during during a medical emergency & clarifying all staff roles & responsibilities.

We hope that helps but if you have any specific questions about anaphylaxis, please feel free to contact us!

You can also refer to the Resuscitation Council UK's FAQ's in relation to anaphylaxis.

P.S. We also provide additional Drug Administration & IM injection courses. If you'd like to know more, Contact Us

Free Dental CPD Training!

Used your CPR or Medical Emergency skills recently? You or your practice could get free CPD training - here's how...

If you or your team have used any skills from your CPR or Medical Emergency training, we want to hear about it!

Female dentist wearing cap & mask dressed as superhero

Nobody in your practice wants a medical emergency to happen. But if it does, we want to know that your training helped you prepare & manage any emergency to the best of your ability.

We want to know what happened & how your team dealt with it. Then we'll enter you into our draw to win one of the following courses of your choice:

All you have to do is email us at info@lubasmedical.com or use our contact us form telling us how you & your team managed the emergency.

We also want to share your story in our monthly newsletter 'To the Point' (we're happy to keep you or the practice anonymous).

The draw will be completed in December & you'll be notified if you win straight after.

Good Luck!

The Lubas Team

How to treat shock after an accident.

The term “shock” is often misunderstood. It can conjure up images of someone dealing with a traumatic experience being “cured” or comforted with a cup of sugary tea! But shock in medical terms relates to a physiological and potentially life-threatening condition.

To help you understand what type of shock we are talking about, here are some pointers for understanding, recognising & managing shock.

What is Shock?

Shock is the reduction of blood & oxygen to the organs and tissues of the body due to a problem with circulation. If untreated, shock can be fatal.

What causes Shock?

Shock is usually caused by a drop in blood pressure. This reduces the amount of oxygen to your vital organs and tissues.

The drop in blood pressure can be commonly caused by high volume blood loss (hypovolaemic shock), problems with the heart (cardiogenic shock) and severe allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock) among other things

What are the signs & symptoms of shock?

Someone suffering from shock will likely show the following symptoms:

What is the treatment for shock?

If you suspect someone is suffering from shock, you should do the following:

Conclusion

Shock is always brought on by an underlying problem or condition. Recognising the symptoms and acting quickly to get further help is vitally important if you suspect shock.

We provide more in-depth information and training regarding shock on our First Aid for Sport & Exercise (FASE 1) course (link to FASE 1). We also offer further online content at www.lubasonline.com

Related articles

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/first-aid/ (Shock section)

https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-shock/basics/art-20056620

https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/shock-treatment

Online Training - The Future's Bright

Making the most of online medical training

With recent advances in technology, there've been various debates about online vs face-to-face training.

Here's a few points that'll help you get the most out of learning online, & why you don't have to choose between the 2

1. Training in the palm of your hand

The greatest benefit of learning online is quick accessibility on the go.

Woman using Phone

We all consume huge volumes of (mostly useless!) information through our phones. Medical training via your mobile gives you access to information, updates & skills that improve your knowledge.

You can advance your CPD, remind yourself of a specific skill & test your knowledge right in the palm of your hand.

2. Personalised training

An online learning library offers you the chance to pick & choose the medical training & CPD that suits you. You can home in on the specific areas & levels that fit your needs. This creates a personalised training package just for you.

3. Up Skill

Online training offers you the chance to increase your skills & knowledge very quickly. Certain skills require physical practice & face-to-face learning. But there are elements of theory & video examples/scenarios you can use to refresh your knowledge. You can “up skill” your previous learning to prepare you for your next course.

4. Best of both worlds

We recommend using online medical training to enhance your practical learning (blended learning).

Pan using Laptop

Nothing gets you ready for the real thing like real-life, scenario based practical training. Learning online shouldn’t replace your face-to-face learning. It should give you support before, during and certainly after your practical courses.

See online training as your interactive manual or guide that you can refer to & test yourself with.

You can benefit greatly from using online learning for medical training and first aid. But combining it with practical training will really enhance your skills & confidence.

We’ve recently updated the format to our First Aid for Sport & Exercise 1 course. To find out more about the new format www.lubasmedical.com