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First Aid
13 Answers
This morning a lady threw herself down on the pavement in front of me, shaking and crying. Of course I stopped to see if I could help.
She had broken her ankle.
I have been sent on no end of First Aid courses over the years, and I was just wondering - apart from calling an ambulance, would you know what to do?
She had broken her ankle.
I have been sent on no end of First Aid courses over the years, and I was just wondering - apart from calling an ambulance, would you know what to do?
Answers
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4GS, I know what you are saying and I heard that a lot during these training sessions.
I was just wondering if people generally knew what to do. Obviously getting the person calmed down and comfortable is a priority, but �immobilise the limb�?! That�s the part where my memory fails me. I just wish I could remember what to do in these situations.
Technically I helped by talking to her soothingly by her name and holding her hand whilst ordering various people to phone for an ambulance, get something to support her head and keep her warm, then to contact someone she knows � but that was the extent of it.
It is worrying that if somebody keeled over in front of me that all my First Aid training has come to nothing. My reactions were just common sense ones, rather than any FA application.
I was just wondering if people generally knew what to do. Obviously getting the person calmed down and comfortable is a priority, but �immobilise the limb�?! That�s the part where my memory fails me. I just wish I could remember what to do in these situations.
Technically I helped by talking to her soothingly by her name and holding her hand whilst ordering various people to phone for an ambulance, get something to support her head and keep her warm, then to contact someone she knows � but that was the extent of it.
It is worrying that if somebody keeled over in front of me that all my First Aid training has come to nothing. My reactions were just common sense ones, rather than any FA application.
In my life I've lost count of the number of people that have fallen down in front of me, it's usually a fit of some sort but I always seem to be on hand for cuts, burns, falls, excessive vomitting and once a broken arm courtesy of my sister, (although in that instance I just screamed louder than she did causing my mother to come running to me first and to look really quite angry when on questioning, hearing the answer ****'s arm is sticking out at a revolting angle. Well it was!)
Anyway, I've never been on a first aid course so I always feel out of my depth but I generally do the same as you and apply common sense and order a lot of other people about while tring to calm down the person in trouble. Or in most cases have their head in my lap so they don't bash it while they jerk convulsively. My particular favourite was holding a sanitary towel to a womans bleeding head figuring that this was technically what it was intended for and was probably more useful than a pack of kleenex.
As to whether me quietly going about my business causes these accidents, well I leave that in the hands of the Gods to judge.
Anyway, I've never been on a first aid course so I always feel out of my depth but I generally do the same as you and apply common sense and order a lot of other people about while tring to calm down the person in trouble. Or in most cases have their head in my lap so they don't bash it while they jerk convulsively. My particular favourite was holding a sanitary towel to a womans bleeding head figuring that this was technically what it was intended for and was probably more useful than a pack of kleenex.
As to whether me quietly going about my business causes these accidents, well I leave that in the hands of the Gods to judge.
Hi there my little drumstick!
Obviously I am well-used to women throwing themselves at me and most often just assume they are in need of an ambulance and people in white suits.
But there are times CD when I just randomly forget to take out my emergency sanitary towel when I suit up in the mornings. I suspect you take out all manner of �emergency� items and �find� uses for them, even if does involve the odd misplaced banana skin. I bet MacGyver learnt from you.
Obviously I am well-used to women throwing themselves at me and most often just assume they are in need of an ambulance and people in white suits.
But there are times CD when I just randomly forget to take out my emergency sanitary towel when I suit up in the mornings. I suspect you take out all manner of �emergency� items and �find� uses for them, even if does involve the odd misplaced banana skin. I bet MacGyver learnt from you.
I did loads of different first aid courses when I was younger, brownies, guides, school, bronze and silver medallion at college (failed the swimming but passed the first aid so am fine so long as you're not drowing) and used to do a lot of voluntary work with the severely disabled and in a hospice so always had pretty good training.
Keeping calm and using common sense is one of the best things though, however scary.
I remember a few incidents, one where I was out alone with a lady with advanced Huntingtons Disease who had a choking fit and couldn't clear her throat.
Another one where I had to mither and mither for help when I found someone I knew was diabetic was seemingly asleep with a suspicious shots glass nearby. I kept being told to leave him, he was fine, just having a nap etc... When I finally made a nurse check his blood sugar he was nearly at coma level.
Had a few people collapse on me, one with a blood clot on her brain.
I always stop to help people who look like they need it in the street.
Could do with a refresher mind.
Keeping calm and using common sense is one of the best things though, however scary.
I remember a few incidents, one where I was out alone with a lady with advanced Huntingtons Disease who had a choking fit and couldn't clear her throat.
Another one where I had to mither and mither for help when I found someone I knew was diabetic was seemingly asleep with a suspicious shots glass nearby. I kept being told to leave him, he was fine, just having a nap etc... When I finally made a nurse check his blood sugar he was nearly at coma level.
Had a few people collapse on me, one with a blood clot on her brain.
I always stop to help people who look like they need it in the street.
Could do with a refresher mind.
By calling an ambulance, ensuring the person is safe and giving sympathy / reassurance you have done all you can. Look out for shock symptoms but at end of day a break hurts and they will yell and cry, possibly also not really hear your sympathetic reassurance.
Accidents like this can also generate a 'stress incontinence' incident and if you notice a puddle it will be merit to your karma to arrange for a blanket or similar to cover up the embarrassment till the ambulance arrives. But a bit of a wee is not a life or death thing.
Accidents like this can also generate a 'stress incontinence' incident and if you notice a puddle it will be merit to your karma to arrange for a blanket or similar to cover up the embarrassment till the ambulance arrives. But a bit of a wee is not a life or death thing.
To give another perspective on Octavius' question, I've been a paramedic for 15 years and in my experience, I find people's general knowledge of what to do in an emergency very poor. Most people either do nothing, or use common sense; but very few actual have the knowledge or understanding to do the right thing. It's usually the most serious situations that are problematic, heart attacks, strokes, cardiac arrests, unconscious, fits and serious trauma. I've arrived on scene and found bystanders watch people die because they didn't know what to do. It's the resulting sense of helplessness that really affects these individuals. You're fortunate if an ambulance arrives within 10-15 minutes, but it is often these first few minutes that determine the outcome. Someone in cardiac arrest without bystander CPR stands almost no chance of survival after about 5-6 minutes.
As you can guess, I'm an advocate for regular first aid courses and refreshers.
As you can guess, I'm an advocate for regular first aid courses and refreshers.
as they have all said.
Golam, i totally agree with you about regular first aid training, i think it should be done in schools, in with the PE somewhere as PE is sometimes a route of accidents in schools.
I have a broad range of first aid knowledge, gleamed from a lifetime of my own bumps and scrapes.
I have only just done a first aid course at college and i think passed, wont know for another couple of weeks, and i know its gonna be beneficial. Already at work people will come and find me rather then try and find a first aider (its usually minor burns, cuts and scrapes) and the only time i have needed one they were hopeless ( i feinted) .
My husband is a 'head' first aider at his factory and i have learnt first hand how his knowledge is useful, ok he could do with learning bedside manor but his says no amount of courses could teach what you learn in the field.
Golam, i totally agree with you about regular first aid training, i think it should be done in schools, in with the PE somewhere as PE is sometimes a route of accidents in schools.
I have a broad range of first aid knowledge, gleamed from a lifetime of my own bumps and scrapes.
I have only just done a first aid course at college and i think passed, wont know for another couple of weeks, and i know its gonna be beneficial. Already at work people will come and find me rather then try and find a first aider (its usually minor burns, cuts and scrapes) and the only time i have needed one they were hopeless ( i feinted) .
My husband is a 'head' first aider at his factory and i have learnt first hand how his knowledge is useful, ok he could do with learning bedside manor but his says no amount of courses could teach what you learn in the field.
Golem you are spot on with what I was aiming at. As said I have had no end of FA training sessions for all manner of situations, including the ones you have mentioned.
Fortunately in this instance, a 999 call and palliative care was all that was required. Whilst I am not one to panic in crisis and my systemic auto-bot-manager mode switches into gear, I shudder to imagine what would have happened had it been something more sinister, since my memory would be at a loss. That worries me really. I would hate to think that my indecisiveness/inaction could potentially risk someone�s life.
Thanks for all your input, ladies and gentlemen, and China.
Fortunately in this instance, a 999 call and palliative care was all that was required. Whilst I am not one to panic in crisis and my systemic auto-bot-manager mode switches into gear, I shudder to imagine what would have happened had it been something more sinister, since my memory would be at a loss. That worries me really. I would hate to think that my indecisiveness/inaction could potentially risk someone�s life.
Thanks for all your input, ladies and gentlemen, and China.
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