At our February meeting we welcomed three members representing St John Ambulance. Trevor, Stuart and Chelsea came along to give us some helpful hints on basic first aid which could one day help to save somebody’s life. Trevor had been a member of St John Ambulance for 25 years, starting off as an ambulance driver and now gave talks and instruction to others. He began by setting up a scenario where we had to imagine we had found someone collapsed on the floor and then talked us through the various steps to be taken and critically in what order, depending on whether the casualty was breathing or not. First step was to check for any immediate danger so that in helping someone you were not likely to become a casualty yourself! Speak to the patient to elicit a response and then call for help. The next job is to check they are breathing and make sure their airway is clear. Push head back and watch for rise and fall of the chest. Phone or ask someone to phone for an ambulance. With Stuart as a willing casualty Trevor demonstrated placing a person in the recovery position which can help to save someone’s life.
If the casualty is not breathing then is the time to begin CPR. Start with 30 chest compressions with hands locked together in the centre of the chest. Follow this with two mouth to mouth breaths and then continue chest compressions until the ambulance arrives. It is crucial to keep up a steady rhythm in order to get the heart beating again. If there is a defibrillator nearby, this can be used to shock the heart back into action.
We then had a demonstration on how to use a triangular bandage in different situations. Members also had questions concerning EpiPens and how to use a defibrillator if one is to hand. We all felt reassured that in an emergency we would be able to do something to help which is better than doing nothing at all.
