Sunday 11th April saw several club members
enjoying excellent surf conditions outside the station wall, whilst another 6
of us looked on from the clubhouse in envy. We were waiting for the start of
our emergency first aid in the outdoor environment course.
The course was run by our own Matt Thomson, who’s many years
of experience as a medic with the Royal marines and latterly working on
ambulances put him in good stead to answer our various questions (what do you
do when someone has an epileptic fit when out sea kayaking?). It also means
that he has real-life stories to tell on most first aid topics.
We got started promptly and were soon embroiled in the world
of heart attacks, dangerous bleeds, seizures, recovery position, DRABC, resusci
Anne, gunshot wounds (not really – just checking you’re reading carefully) and
hypothermia. Everything you’d expect from an intensive first aid course. We
covered a lot of information but Matt broke up the talky bits with plenty of
practical activities, which took place outside. For example, we learned how to
roll someone with suspected spinal injuries in order to check for bleeding from
the back and to enable the patient to be moved onto a stretcher.
The packed day and many activities ensured that we all had a
fun time and there was plenty to learn, particularly as we focussed on what we
would do if the emergencies happened whilst kayaking. Unlike other first aid
courses, where I have come away feeling a bit swamped by all the mneumonics
anacronyms and sheer quantity of information, I completed Matt’s course
confident that if an emergency should happen, then I am now more able and
knowledgeable to deal with it.
Was it worth missing the surf? …Definitely!
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