The art of saving lives

10:33am Tuesday 25th March 2008

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"First-aider - you?"

I thought I was hearing things. My husband casually mentioned how he had put his name down to train as a first-aid representative at work.

Was this the same person who on numerous occasions had left the room during an episode of Casualty? The person who absolutely, totally, utterly refuses to watch any real-life medical documentaries?

In fact, when the children were little, he struggled to read Humpty Dumpty without coming over all dizzy after mention of the "great fall" and the resulting injuries.

So I was more than a little surprised to hear of his willingness to put his name forward, so much so that I suspected hanky panky. "If you're hoping to practise mouth-to-mouth on a colleague, you'll be disappointed," I told him, recalling the rubber dummy I had to use when I took a similar course at work many years ago.

But, he insists, he really wants to do it, as he feels it is something of vital importance. Thinking about it, I'm glad he's going ahead. It will be a comfort to know that at least one of us knows what to do in an emergency.

I've often thought that, with two children, it is a bit irresponsible not to know the basics, especially when you hear of people who wished they'd known what to do to save others in certain situations.

I did a first-aid course once, but it was 25 years ago, and, apart from the rubber dummy, I can't remember a thing. A couple of years ago I went to the assistance of a woman who fell over on a bridge, hitting her head in the process. There were other people around who came to help, but none of us knew what to do. The woman said she felt dizzy, so we laid her down on a coat. She looked uncomfortable, but we didn't dare move her. I tried to remember the recovery position but, apart from one arm bent (left/right?), I was in the dark. And unless there's a doctor around, everyone throws in different suggestions. One person says bend the left leg, another say the right, someone says curl the body, another thinks leave it straight. Then you end up squabbling while the victim perishes. We didn't even think to check her pulse. Would I have been able to find it? If she'd needed the kiss of life, with chest compressions and all that, she'd probably never have recovered.

We all vaguely know what mouth-to-mouth is, and other procedures like the Heimlich manoeuvre. But it's one thing having a basic knowledge and another putting it into practice. If I saw a stranger choking in a restaurant I wouldn't rush to pick him or her up and squeeze them hard under the ribs - unless I knew exactly what I was doing.

I carry a small first-aid book around with me in case something happens when we're on a walk, miles from anywhere. But things have to be looked up, pages read - not the sort of thing you'd want to be doing if your partner had just been stampeded by a bull or fallen head-first off a cliff.

That's why I'm pleased my husband is taking the course. I'll be safe and secure in the knowledge that in a medical crisis, he'll know what to do. He might even manage to watch Casualty with me.