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

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dralex

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

I have just got back from skiiing and had one of the most harrowing experiences I have ever had both professionally and personally. I'll skip the details, but I had to give mouth to mouth ventilation to one of my best friends (age 35) who was also best man at our wedding. This all happened up a mountain. We all genuinely thought we'd be going to his funeral this week.

The reason I am posting the story is to say that basic life support really does work and this has big relevance to sailing. Medical equipment took 20 minutes to arrive and the helicopter with doctor took half an hour ( apply this to maritime rescue). All we had was the ability to maintain his airway and ventilate him. Because we managed that, his heart did not stop ( though came very close) and the situation did not deteriorate any more.

It brought it home again that knowing what to do in an emergency makes all the difference and that *** does happen. I never want to go through that again with someone close to me.

This post is not to off load, just to stress that the simple stuff really does work and you can make a difference if you know how.

ps- I'm not sure if this changes my view about on board defibs- I'll have to think about it.
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

quite agree.. tho I haven't saved any lives I certainly prevented a condition getting much worse. In my youf I woz a lifeguard and used to pick peeps up offa the bottom of the pool too... great summer job.. bay watch in donkey jakets!
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

It can be so quickly that a situation can turn dire and I agree simple procedures learnt are good as it can help keep a mental handle and stop the panic engulf. Glad it worked out well for you.
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

Well Done Alex!

Got me thinking that I should refresh my lifesaving skills. Hope you never need them again but bet your friends are really greatful!

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

Glad it all worked out well.

I agree that knowledge and training are well worth while as you never know when you will need it.

Hope your friend is now fully recovered
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

As he said, the beers are on him for a while- truth be told, it's difficult convincing him he owes us nothing.
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

Not wanting to be controversial, but given Alex's profession I hope his life saving skills DO come in useful again. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

So do I, just never on someone close to me. I was a gibbering wreck after, but would do the same again for anyone.
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

Not trying to be a smart aleck but your post just reminded me of a thread a few months ago (on the subject of defibrillators?) when there was some speculation as to the derivation of "dralex" before the penny dropped and dralex was revealed as Dr Alex.
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

Not trying to be a smart aleck but your post just reminded me of a thread a few months ago (on the subject of defibrillators?) when there was some speculation as to the derivation of "dralex" before the penny dropped and dralex was revealed as Dr Alex.
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

I did a first aid course, about 20 years ago, for work. At the time I was very struck by the words of the instructor who said, in effect, that the two most important things to take away from the course were elevation and pressure (to stop arterial bleeding) and CPR (to keep the circulation going). All the other stuff was - relatively - window dressing, but those two things kept people alive until the professionals arrived. I have never had to to use either of these techniques in anger, but I've never forgotten how to do them, either. His words left a deep impression on me, which you've just reinforced!
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

Did you ventilate him for the full 20 minutes before help arrived?

Was he breathing at all?

What was done when help finally arrived, for example, it could be a lot more than 20 minutes at sea? Should anyone going off shore consider carrying oxygen?

Well done by the way, do you mind if I ask what happened?
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

I signed up for the H&S at work first aid course as I knew it gave me exemption for the first aid course for the Yachtmaster.

Unfortunatly I later had to attend to a person with a badly broken wrist and in obvious great pain. I managed to do an adequate job and strap it up and made them comfortable.

I am also mindful of the honest account in a recent mag of a skipper who abandoned the ARC for an unknown complaint that could have been seasickness. It wasn't and he made the correct decision.

I now do the requalification courses paying a lot more attention as I would never wish to fail if my meagre knowledge was required.
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

Completely agree with everything in this thread, and its sufficiently important to me that not only have I done the first aid course, but I married a doctor for extra reassurance. Thankfully neither of us have had to put skills (in my case highly limited) into practice in a personal situation like dralex.

But... in the interest of devil's advocacy, what about the litigation risks? As I understand from my wife's interpretation of her various medical journals, in the US off-duty doctors are advised to walk past road accidents, etc without intervening in case 'something goes wrong': they are not insured outside their place of work. How long is it before someone does an emergency tracheotomy in the UK and the ungrateful bugger later sues for making a hole in them?

Of course that won't stop me, Mrs Salty or anyone else on this forum helping someone out in dire straits whether on a boat or the side of a road but just a thought on where we might be heading...
 
Re: First Aid- you never think you\'ll need to use it!!

Current UK Medical indemnity policies give cover for good samaritan acts thankfully. I could never walk past something knowing I may have the ability to help.

pm'd you with details Ships Woofy- too much info for public forum.
 
gibbering wreck

most interested to hear you felt like a gibbering wreck afterwards - and er you're a flippin doctor! No offence but I'd have thort you would be hey ho mouth to mouth tum-te-tum etc etc oops he's dead ah well, tsk, darnit but there you go.....like on ER. Or is that only vets?
 
Re: gibbering wreck

My brother in law is a doctor, and reckons my first aid is more advanced as he never gets to practise it (unlike nurses).

I don't think a single first aid course does much for you - you need to do a few before the penny starts to drop. Triage is pretty sobering if you ever cover it.
 
Re: gibbering wreck

Hi TCM and Tome. I was a gibbering wreck because it was one of my best friends- it doesn't mean anybody else would have had different treatment, just that I would have been able to deal with the aftermath in my professional capacity rather than as somebody who nearly lost their best friend- the outcome hinged directly on me. I keep on thinking of the what ifs.

TOme- I feel that just having a go is better than not having a go- you may actually do seom good. When I worked on ITU and ER stuff, anybody who had had no BLS in the field stood very little chance of being recoverd.

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