Real life drama unfolds at First Aid Training Course

The Emergency First Aid at Work Training Course run by Pauline Wintle started like any other, with the delegates discussing the topics to be covered during the day: CPR, choking, burns and much more. Just an hour into the programme, one of the delegates gently raised his hand and calmly indicated that he was choking on a sweet...the course suddenly changed from theoretical to a real life saving situation.

Sammy Matthews, 29 from Emsworth, had been sponsored to join the course by his boss at Universal Vehicle Services, garage services based in Horndean. As Sam was listening to the instructions for the practical "hands-on" CPR session coming up, he picked up one of the sweets on the conference table. Sam explained what happened next "I realised that the sweet had lodged as I tried to swallow it. I tried to clear it without making a fuss but I began to struggle so tried to excuse myself so I could sort it out".

Pauline took one look at Sam and her training kicked in. She left the room with Sam and stayed with him to assess the situation which became increasingly more serious. Another delegate, Penny Plimmer from Japics Photographic, realised from the little training that she had just received, that Pauline might need someone to help so went to support.

The sweet had lodged in Sam's chest, low enough for him to still breathe but with some effort, and he was clearly in lots of discomfort. Pauline's concern was that it was so low that traditional back blows or abdominal thrusts would move the sweet up further but it wouldn't clear it, risking completely blocking the airways and making matters worse. The only cause of action was to dial 999.

Pauline and Penny looked after Sam until the paramedics arrived who concurred that Sam needed to get to hospital. Just as they were preparing to do so, Sam's gastric juices did their job and the sweet dislodged slightly easing his discomfort, finally clearing completely to the huge relief of everyone...not least Sam.

"The whole experience was unreal...you don't expect to go to an Emergency First Aid course...and need emergency first aid!!" Sam continued. "Pauline certainly practised what she preached; she kept me calm throughout and reassured me that it would all be fine. I'd just like to say thank you to her, Penny and the staff at the Brookfield Hotel for all their help."

"Sam was amazing" Pauline added "after all that he'd been through, he still decided he wanted to stay and finish the course...we did stop him joining in the choking session though! Sam has a great sense of humour and he took some ribbing from the group for the rest of the day. One of his colleagues was on the course too so I think he was more worried about the stick he was going to get when he went back to work!"

Pauline, director of Formation Business Excellence (www.formationbe.com) based in Waterlooville, runs a range of open and in-house first aid courses in the Havant, Fareham and Portsmouth areas.

Photo (taken by Japics) from left: Penny Plimmer, Sam Matthews, Pauline Wintle

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