Getting the low down... and then trained up

Last Sunday I was the team leader partnered with Deanna providing first aid coverage at the NSW Corporate Games. This was at the cricket at Queens Oval. We did have other first aid teams covering the tennis that weekend as well. It was a very quiet day with only the single treatment, which was a dislocated pinky finger and fractured ring finger. Unknown to most not familiar with the game it is a very common injury in cricket when attempting to catch a ball. Essentially the fingers get crunched in between the hand and the flying ball with the result being snap, crackle and pop. From a slightly perverse point of view fractures and dislocations always look very interesting as seeing fingers and/or limbs pointing the wrong way relative to what it’s attached to is quite intriguing. Other than that one treatment we spent most of the day relaxing and watching amateur cricket.

 

At the monthly team meeting we went through the usual topics such as past duties, upcoming duties, new training and news etc. The highlight though was more training, this time it was in removing motorcycle helmets from potential spinally-injured patients. What I thought was a relatively easy procedure is actually quite difficult since you’re trying to remove a full-face helmet whilst at the same time providing traction on the spine, and also making sure his or her neck doesn’t get moved in way. It is definitely a two-person job with one providing traction and support with the other undoing and removing the helmet. What also made it harder was trying to check for breathing when they’re wearing motorcycle clothing which can be up to three layers and is quite thick. After that it’s the standard procedures for example rolling them into the recovery position.

What’s obvious is there’s certainly more to DRABC then what’s taught in the run-of-the-mill Senior First Aid course. These little quirks are generally only learnt with hands-on experience and are essential to the safety of patients and also oneself. So it pays to become more active in practicing first aid as opposed to a first aid course every three years.

 

Well that’s about it for this blog. Talk to ya next week.

 

Latest Posts

• REDiSupport training »
• Update on the Lennox Head Tornado »
• Hurry up and wait »
• Meeting of the young minds »
• A word from the Australian Red Cross about the Chilean Earthquake »
 

0 Comments

Leave a Comment

	(required)
	(required but will not be displayed)
Comment
(required)