Essex Police Sergeant Martin Chapman from Maldon Police Station was immediately on hand last Tuesday to provide life saving assistance to a two-year-old child who had been hit by a car.

The little girl from east London chased a football into the road and was hit by a blue Vauxhall Zafira people carrier. The driver, a 31-year-old woman from Tillingham was not hurt.

Sgt Chapman who was first on the scene said: “The child was making no noise and had a weak pulse. I opened the child’s airways by tilting her head and pulling forward her tongue.” It has been confirmed by ambulance staff that this saved the little girl’s life.

Although Sgt Chapman is being quite modest about his actions he has said that it demonstrates how useful a few basic first aid skills can be. He said: “There was nothing medically complicated about what I did and it wasn’t the result of any specialist police training; it was just the confidence of knowing a few basic techniques that are easily learned by any member of the public.”

The child after being taken to Colchester Hospital was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London where her condition is improving. It is understood she is due to be released from the intensive therapy unit to a ward today.

Sgt Chapman also wants to take the opportunity to issue a reminder about road safety. He said: “We are in the heart of the summer holidays and it is good for children to be playing out in the fresh air but we all know how enthusiastic and fast-moving youngsters can be. It takes just a second for an accident like this to occur and the summer holidays are a poignant time to remind our children of the dangers of the roads and to ensure they choose suitable locations such as public parks and playgrounds in which to play.”

A basic first aid course is a few hours long, not much time to give up to earn the skills to save a life. Its not all very hi tech equiptment, drugs etc its the simplest things that get used most often

We'll done to him though, shows us Sgt. are actually useful afterall

What a star!

It's all anyone needs to remember. You don't need to know lots about first aid to help someone in need.

D - DANGER - Check for it before you approach the scene and neutralise it before entering. Only move the casualty if absolutely necessary.

R- RESPONSE - Shout at a casualty to assess if they are conscious. I like to tap the collarbone as this seems to help if someone is pretending!

A- OPEN THE AIRWAY; Tilt the head back but not too far, especially if the casualty is injured from trauma, ie Road Traffic Collision.

B- BREATHING; after opening the airway, look, listen and feel for breathing. If not breathing, commence CPR (check a good website for advice on this)

If patient is unconscious but breathing normally, place into recovery position, or simply roll them onto their uninjured side, and re-check their airway and breathing.

C- CIRCULATION- Treat any heavy bleeding with a clean towel etc or dressing. Apply direct pressure and use something to secure this in place, making sure the whole wound is covered.

AT ALL TIMES KEEP THE CASUALTY WARM WITH BLANKET OR COAT, NEVER GIVE THEM ANYTHING TO EAT OR DRINK.

DIAL 999 or local emergency number as early as possible. Ask for AMBULANCE.
Give exact LOCATION of incident. An ambulance will now be dispatched. DO NOT HANG UP. Follow first aid advice given down the telephone by ambulance control, and make sure someone is nearby and ready to flag down the ambulance as it arrives.


Nothing beats a proper first aid course ans I highly recommend everyone attends one, preferably through work as its free to the employee!

If you want to learn more about first aid, you could join your local branch of St John Ambulance, St Andrews Ambulance (Scotland), Order of Malta Ambulance Corps (Ireland), or the British Red Cross. Numbers are available in local yellow pages etc.

STAY SAFE OUT THERE

Rob.

Not sure how things are in the uk but if its trauma suspected spinal we use jaw thrust for airway instead of head tilt chin lift.

Another note even if you have attended first aid course your not compelled to act and if you dont feel comfortable then dont. Personally I'm an emergency medical first responder so I'm fairly highly trained and have used my skills a fair few times but even on duty with the order of malta the most common thing used is the good old waterproof plaster

Any first aid course is worth it a few quid and a few hours for a life quite simple

Same training as I was taught

Fantastic news well done

Its the simple things that count really.

Quick question dick when you became a AFO did you get special training in treating trauma eg GSW's???

Unfortunately Sarge, under SJA rules / UK resus council, jaw thrust has gone out of the window unless you're EMT or Ambulance Aid equivalent. I agree though that its best in suspected spinal trauma, but my advice was very basic for a lay person to understand, not written for a fellow responder!

Yea true, I'm covering motorbike road racing this weekend with omac so nearly everything will be suspected spinal so have the board, head huggers and straps at the ready

Gonna start a topic in chit chat about first aid

See my answer in the first aid post

Rodger that

First Aid Post??????

Yea you know a little hut all us vol first aiders sit in and drink tea ...................... oh wait no, he means the post in chit-chat

Ha ha ha (Whispers) Can I come in?