First Aid- you never think you'll need to use it!!

Re: gibbering wreck

Not surprised you're spooked Alex - I can only imagine how difficult it was knowing that your friends life was in your hands.

Well done, by the way!
Tom
 
Re: gibbering wreck

I was once first on the scene of a road traffic accident
I was unable to find a pulse and pronounced the bloke dead....
Then he opened his eyes and sat up!
Shortly after this I enrolled for a first aid course.

Regards Briani
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

In France you could end up in jail for walking past. There is a law called "non-assistance to someone in danger" and it could be applied to people being mugged - yes you MUST go to their assistance - or eg if you know that your neighbours are mistreating their children.

I think it is a good law.

John
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

Your friend was very lucky that you were there to help.

I always learn something new every time I do a 1st aid course. Each time there is an improved technique, or an old technique that has been discarded. Plus, as someone here said, you need to keep doing them to stay in practice.

If you are going offshore,and don't have a medical background, then it is worth doing an advanced marine first aid, or better still, do Ship Masters Medical Training Certificate. It has been a few years since I did my certs, but it was one of the best short courses I have ever done.

Thanks for sharing your story Dralex.
 
Re: gibbering wreck

My Doc used to say that as well - he reckoned any casualties had been sorted by the time he got to see them so he never bothered with first aid skills. I thought his boat's medical kit would have been really good so I looked in it - thinking to see the definitive model.
1 grubby bit of crepe
1 bent safety pin
Several rather unpleasant looking bits of elastoplast and a rusty blade from a Stanley knife.
Most reassuring!!
 
Re: offloading

Thanks- I've not really been able to dump it anywhere else. Like I said, it wasn't really meant to be an offload, more a pass on the experience and also that the simple stuff works. Thanks anyway for all the supportive replies- I didn't realise it but I needed them.

CHEERS EVERYONE

Alex
 
Re: gibbering wreck

[ QUOTE ]
.

I feel I am off loading now- it really spooked me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't ever feel bad about offloading here.

We all have loads of banter and fun on here with Scots/English, Raggies/Stinkies etc etc, but I'd like to think that when push comes to shove, we'd all rally round each other. Just like any other group of friends.

Stay cool ! !
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

I've had to do a fair bit of first aid in previous careers, and what I find the most difficult part is dealing with bystanders!

Drunk girls crying, drunk lads shouting, loud music, dark environment, people getting in the way, well meaning idiots trying to give advice or take over, absolute bedlam.

The only 'textbook' case I have ever had was unfortunately full CPR. It was unsuccessful.

I think basic first aid should be taught in schools. I remember a particularly sad sight once when I came across a group of people in West Ham park just as an ambulance was arriving. Someone had called an ambulance, but they had all stood around this dead jogger, none of them knowing what to do or willing to take charge. Sad.

If everyone knew some basic first aid, I'm sure there would be thousands less premature deaths in this country.
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

Bet your friend's outlook on life will have changed after his experience.

Well done Alex, guess there's a lot of people real proud of you.
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

Alex
Well done and thank you for sharing. Your pm around Xmas was very supportive and helpful. Its always harder when its a friend or colleague. Have tried to resucitate three people out of the work place - two survived (and threw up over me as a thank you) and the third drowned in 3" of water. At work, supported by a team of well trained professionals, it is easier but alone with no special kit it is hard.
Will pm you about spare bits
Richard
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

I know a number of Fire Service personnel who routinely get involved in horrific situations, and laugh it off, but if there is ever a friend, relative or even acquaintance involded, they shatter - there has to be some degree of de-humanising involved to cope with these things, and seeing a familiar face just seems to short this out.

To everyone reading this thread: Would you have known what to do? Imagine being in the same incident and not knowing what to do?

Chances are that anyone in employment reading this will be able to get good first-aid training FOR FREE - See your employer and volunteer to be a First Aider. OK, so the training you get won't be optimised for offshore sailing, BUT it covers the basics, and as pointed out elsewhere, it's the basics that matter.

One day, it could save a life. It may even be the life of someone dear to you. You never know.

Andy
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

[ QUOTE ]
I think basic first aid should be taught in schools.

[/ QUOTE ]

It wouldn't necessarily help. One of my worst experiences was having to watch while a drowned ATS girl was "resuscitated" by a passer-by. His method was to have her face-up while he gave regular pushes on her stomach "to push the water out of her". At the time I was 14, and the county junior life-saving champion. I wasn't allowed to help because I was obviously too young to know the 'proper' way of doing it.

In fact, I now know that I probably wouldn't have been successful either, because it was before the days of mouth-to-mouth. The old Schafer and Sylvester methods were almost totally ineffective. But I didn't know that at the time.
 
wow

i think most of us would rather be the emotionals wreck you are now than the emotioanal wreck you *might* have been without first aid knowledge - so we'd better get more training....

prpas that's what is really hitting you?

well done again
 
Re: gibbering wreck

I know a doctor who reckons he's the last person you'd want to see after an accident... well he is a forensic pathologist
 
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