As part of the Derby Telegraph's Save a Life campaign, our staff were given first aid training by St John Ambulance to teach them how to save lives. Caroline Jones reports.
IT'S not every day that staff at the Derby Telegraph get to have a laugh at the respected chief sub-editor, Ian Croson.
So, watching St John Ambulance trainer Antony Owen wrap him in bandages was certainly one of those rare occasions.
The image might have been amusing but it carried a serious message – because the staff watching were being taught how to save lives.
Since last October, the Derby Telegraph has been running its Save a Life campaign.
We have teamed up with St John Ambulance to encourage hundreds of readers to learn first aid in the hope that it can one day help them save someone's life.
"It's easy to imagine you would know what to do if somebody collapsed or started choking in front of you," said Ian.
"On the other side of the coin, you can panic because you think there's absolutely no way you can help.
"People see all these TV shows, particularly medical ones, and perhaps assume – wrongly – that they don't need to do any kind of first aid training.
"But the reality is, while nothing can prepare you for the horror of a loved one being in a life-threatening situation, there are things you can do to help them.
"While I've had some first aid training in the past, I was very grateful to have the opportunity to learn from St John Ambulance."
About 50 members of staff volunteered to take part in the training at the paper's offices in Meadow Road, Derby.
Managers and heads of departments were invited to participate in St John Ambulance's two-hour course, Essential First Aid.
It teaches people how to deal with choking, severe bleeding, chest pains and resuscitation.
Antony began the session by talking participants through four important words, beginning with B, which are important to remember when helping someone.
These were breathing, bleeding, burns and bones.
He explained the problems that could arise and the importance of prioritising which person to treat first, before moving on to techniques to stop someone from choking.
This was followed by a lesson on cardiopulmonary resuscitation, better known as CPR, with staff using training dummies to learn the actions.
Staff also learned how to bandage up a casualty.
Among those taking part was Jade Beecroft, the paper's deputy news editor and a keen horse rider.
She said: "I was really keen to learn first aid because I ride horses, which can be dangerous.
"And I have previously been at the scene of accidents and not known how to help, so the session was really helpful.
"They're skills you hope you'll never need – but I think you'll be so thankful you've done the course if you choose to do it."
Jane McFarlane, assistant news editor, said the course was useful to her because she is involved in Guiding.
She said: "First aid is such a useful thing to be able to do because you never know when you might need it.
"It's definitely something everyone should learn – even if it's just the basics. You never know, one day those skills might save someone's life."
Dad of twin daughters Ian Hodgkinson, deputy picture editor, said: "It was incredibly useful.
"Antony also went through a few basics for when it comes to helping children, so I was very grateful."
Following the two-hour course, the rest of the paper's staff were invited to take part in half-hour taster sessions.
Education correspondent Zena Hawley said she had not done any first aid training for several years.
She added: "I think it's fair to say that, if anyone needed first aid at our office now, they would soon be surrounded by people wanting to help.
"We all appreciated having the opportunity to learn these things.
"I've been in two situations in the past where somebody needed first aid and, although it's quite daunting, your instinct is to help.
"And I believe it's far better to be confident in what you're doing. Only by learning first aid do you get that confidence."
Reporter Kelly Tyler said: "It was a short session but really useful. Before this, I had no idea how to help anyone in need."
St John Ambulance offered to run the sessions because of the paper's campaign.
So far, we have encouraged more than 400 readers to learn life-saving first aid by attending one of the charity's training courses.
Along with the Essential First Aid course, St John Ambulance offers Essential First Aid, All Ages – a three-hour course which covers helping babies, children and adults.
Instead of paying the full price of £25, the readers took advantage of the coupon we have been printing in the Derby Telegraph (see right) – offering the courses at just £10 or £15 respectively.
After running the sessions at the Derby Telegraph, Antony said: "It was great to be invited to the paper's offices and work with the different members of staff who work there.
"It was a great way to thank the Derby Telegraph for its help in promoting St John Ambulance through its Save a Life campaign.
"Basic first aid can often be the difference between a life lost and a life saved, so it's important to get the message out there about the importance of learning first aid."
Derby Telegraph editor Neil White said: "We want to thank St John Ambulance for coming to our offices and training the staff.
"We believe wholeheartedly in our Save a Life campaign but actions speak louder than words, which is why it was important for our staff to act as role models for our readers and learn first aid themselves.
"You never want it to happen but, if one of our members of staff required emergency first aid at the office, we know there are plenty of their colleagues they could turn to for help.
"I now ask readers to think who they would turn to for help in an emergency and, just as importantly, whether or not their loved ones could turn to them for help.
"If the answer to that question is no, then it's not too late to take part in our Save a Life campaign."
To book a place on one of the St John Ambulance courses, call 01246 200272.
Mention the coupon on the phone and then fill it in and take it with you on the course.
BASIC FIRST AID TIPS THAT COULD HELP YOU TO SAVE A LIFEWHEN it comes to first aid, here are five ways you can "be the difference":
CHOKING
Cough it out: Encourage them to cough. If this doesn't clear the obstruction, support the upper body with one hand and help them lean forward.
Slap it out: Give up to five sharp back blows between the shoulder blades.
Squeeze it out: If the obstruction has not cleared, stand behind them and put both arms around the upper part of the abdomen. Clench fist and place it between the navel and the bottom of the breastbone. Grasp your fist firmly with your other hand. Pull sharply inwards and upwards up to five times. If this doesn't clear the obstruction, repeat backslaps and abdominal thrusts up to three times. If it still hasn't cleared, call 999. Continue until help arrives. If casualty becomes unconscious, start CPR.
SEVERE BLEEDING:
Press it: Apply direct pressure over the wound with your hand using a clean dressing. If you don't have a dressing, get them to apply pressure themselves. Maintain pressure on the wound.
Raise it: Help them lie down; raise and support the injured limb above the level of their heart to reduce blood loss. Raise legs to ease shock.
999: Call 999 or 112 and monitor while waiting for help.
HEART ATTACK
Signs of a heart attack include a crushing, vice-like pain in the centre of the chest, usually spreading down one or both arms, plus breathlessness.
Sit them down: Make them as comfortable as possible – a half sitting position with knees bent and head and shoulders supported is best.
999: Call for emergency help and tell ambulance control you suspect a heart attack.
Aspirin: If available and not allergic, give them one aspirin tablet and tell them to chew it slowly (not for under-16s).
DEALING WITH SOMEONE UNCONSCIOUS
Open airway: Check the airway is open and clear.
Tilt head: Tilt the head and lift the chin to open the airway.
Check for breathing: If not breathing, the heart will stop. Start CPR immediately.
Recovery position if breathing: If spinal injury is not suspected, put them in the recovery position.
DEALING WITH SOMEONE WHO IS NOT BREATHING
Open airway: If unconscious, check airway is open and clear.
Tilt head: Tilt the head and lift the chin to open the airway.
Check for breathing: If not breathing, the heart will stop. Start CPR immediately.
999: Call for help.
Pump: Place one hand on the centre of chest. Place the heel of your other hand on top of the first and interlock your fingers, but keep your fingers off the ribs. Lean directly over chest and press down vertically about 5-6cm. Release pressure but don't remove hands. Give 30 compressions at a rate of 120 per minute.
Breathe: Tilt head back with one hand and lift the chin with two fingers of your other hand to ensure the airway is open. Pinch nose to close nostrils. Take a breath and seal your lips over mouth until chest rises. Maintaining the tilt and chin lift, take your mouth away. Look along the chest and watch it fall. Repeat to give two rescue breaths. Repeat 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths. Continue CPR until help arrives or the person starts to breathe normally.
