Sunday 11^th 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!