BOUNCERS in Bury are to be taught vital life-saving techniques.

They will be included in the Whitefield-based Greater Manchester Ambulance Service (GMAS) campaign to train the club and pub doormen to open up more than just doors.

Contracted to train nearly all the door staff throughout Greater Manchester, GMAS expects to teach 4,000 bouncers life saving techniques by the year 2000.

The training will include treating wounds, head injuries and alcohol-related symptoms. They will also be taught how to spot symptoms which could be attributed to alcohol abuse but may actually be something more serious.

A GMAS spokesman said matters like slurred speech, dizziness and vomiting could easily be a sign of conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy and it is important to spot the difference. A refresher course will be offered every three years, now a requirement of the "Doorsafe" scheme.

Paul Kenny, community liaison manager for GMAS, said: "The goal of 'Doorsafe' is to improve the quality and care to the public when they are out enjoying themselves.

"They will have the skills to help an injured person during the minutes before the ambulance arrives."

Julie Collinson, assistant manager at one club, has seen the direct benefits of the scheme.

"We have fully trained door staff who have found their first aid skills invaluable.

"We had one incident recently when a customer had an epileptic fit and it was very reassuring to have staff who knew how to deal with the situation."

The courses will be held at the Manchester College of Arts and Technology.

At the end of the nine-hour training course - made up of three three-hour sessions - door staff will be registered by the "Doorsafe" committee.

They will receive a "Doorsafe" ID card and certificate on completion of the course.

GMAS has launched a survey into the number of dog bites in the area and how they might be prevented.

Trends identified by GMAS show an alarming increase in the number of dog attacks, particularly on small children in the months of April and October.

GMAS also wants to discover the reasons behind the increase and research exact statistics to take action to reduce the number of attacks.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.