I would recommend first aid training to everyone – although it’s a skill one may never need, it is reassuring to have some knowledge that could really help someone one day.
I’m one of the designated first aiders at work, and for the majority of my eleven years in this role I’ve rarely dealt with anything more sinister that tummy aches and grazes. Lately though, there have been a few injuries which have challenged my abilities a little more. A while back, a young chap came into the medical room with a painful finger, injured when he had tried to catch a ball. When I saw the digit was starting to swell, I immediately put it in a split and then attempted to put an elevation sling on him. Ten minutes and four attempts later, when all I could see were two big dark brown eyes peering out at me from a mass of crepe bandage and his damaged finger still unsupported properly, I realised that the refresher course I was due to go on had arrived just in time!
I attended the three-hour session the following week. There were twelve of us from different work places and it soon became apparent that I wasn’t the only one whose first aid skills were a little rusty. So, we spent the morning busily revising the various emergency procedures including bandaging, slings, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), and ABC (airways, breathing and circulation).
It was while we were practising the ABC that the most unfortunate thing happened. To check if someone is breathing properly, you have to make sure their airway is clear, and to be able to do this, you should gently tilt the casualty’s head back. One woman was lying on the floor, playing the part of the unconscious casualty. I dutifully placed my right hand under her chin and my left hand on top of her head and carefully moved her head. It was a moment before I realised that instead of adjusting the position of her head, I had actually managed to slid her wig right back! I took on the status of a landed fish, complete with bulging eyes and gawping mouth, as I struggled to figure out how to deal with the outcome of my ineptitude. It was the dear lady herself who came to my rescue; she simply opened her eyes, coolly readjusted her hair, and then quickly returned to her role as the casualty without a word or a glance of disapproval in my direction whatsoever. I am relieved to say, the morning ended without further incident.
Anyway, with my first aid skills retuned, I returned to school. The weather being so warm and sunny, the children have been spending lunchtimes up on the school playing fields. One day last week, with break nearly over, and everyone starting to make their way back down to the playground, I became aware that someone was urgently calling my name – two boys had been sent to fetch me because another child had fallen and was now beginning to turn blue! I flipped my sandals off and ran to the top field as if I was jet propelled. On my arrival at the scene, the boy looked in a bit of a state but was coughing, which meant he was breathing. He was uncomfortable having been badly winded, but overall he was ok. In fact, I was troubled more by my own bout of coughing, brought on by my uncharacteristic dash!
I really do hope, that in the final three weeks of term, I can return to having to deal with just those little tummy aches and grazes!
Bye for now.
Tania Greenwood
