First Response provided Emergency Cover for the spectacular Veteran Car and Steam Traction event organised by the Rotary Club in Banff – A must for all steam traction buffs!
PREHOSPITAL CPR
An editorial in the BMJ (2008;336:782-3) summarises recent developments in the debate regarding 'compression only' CPR in the prehospital environment. Arguments in favour of moving to 'compression only' CPR include it being easier to learn and perform as well as being more aesthetically acceptable.
On the basis that by encouraging bystanders to at least perform chest compressions the chance of survival is likely to be enhanced, the American Heart Association has published a statement which received considerable press attention. The issue is certain to be a central focus when current resuscitation guidelines are next reviewed and revised.
IN - FLIGHT EMERGENCIES
A recent review of health emergencies on aircraft was commented on in the EMJ (Emergency Medicine Journal). 'As prehospital environments go, aircraft are not easy places to provide emergency care. The statement that "most doctors will encounter a medical emergency once or twice in a lifetime of traveling . . . should focus the attention of readers who fly frequently'
It certainly should - it's already happened to me twice on the same route - and I'm not a doctor! - Could you be called upon to assist in just such a situation?
BAPTISM OF FIRE ? . . .
The following email came from a client's First Aider trained by myself last November -
"I had to use my skills tonight at a road traffic accident near Peterhead.
It was a real bad one with multiple people and multiple injuries! But im sure glad i did the course now! One girl was thrown from the vehicle a considerable distance and had severe injuries but landed luckily in near perfect recovery position and breathing so i just covered her and left her with someone talking to her and told her to shout me if she stopped responding. The other girl was pretty mangled in the back of the car but a passing A&E doctor was on hand so i just assisted him in restricting her movement till the ambulance arrived. I just wish i could have done more but i had to make a decision. I would have done more damage than good if i had tried to move her in anyway with the girl on the road but i just cant get her out of my mind they both would be around 15. They couldnt tell me anything but i know it didnt look good or sound good about the girl on the road. Never mind i did my best and i got a kiss on the cheek from the fireman (sorry firefighter!) that was dealing with the scene, he thanked and praised me for my help. Most people just turn a blind eye and hope someone else deals with it and just phone 999 he said but i dont blame them its not nice. We all cope in different ways and are affected different by stressfull and frightening situations. Thank goodness im not squeamish! Its given me the confidence if anything occured in the future i would hopefully be able to deal with it, well hopefully that wont happen though."
