Any First Aiders here - would you help somebody in trouble?

I did various competitions with the St Johns whilst at school and have a pretty vast knowledge covering more than the basics of first aid. I would definitely help anyone if I knew how (depending on the seriousness of the injury and my knowledge, it's been years since I did anything first aid wise). I don't see how you can calm someone down if they're choking, calling an ambulance isn't going to do anything because if it's serious then they will die from a blocked airway within the average response time o.O

phonemonkey said:
Indeed. To do more will often be both unnecessary and inappropriate, thus giving rise to the possibility of being sued should anything 'extra' you do go wrong. Besides even if it would be appropriate to do more, most professionals will not have the equipment to do more at the roadside and will be able to do nothing more than call for help, and comfort those injured.
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Most first aiders at the side of the motorway will carry a first aid bag, my uncle whom is a first aider at work carries a very big bag in the boot at all times which whilst is big it obviously doesn't have everything but it's enough. At a car accident a first aider would really only be concentrating on keeping everyone safe whilst not putting them self in damage. The first lesson in becoming a qualified first aider is to evaluate the scene and see if it would put their self in danger. What I was taught was DRABC. D being danger.

But no, a first aider will do more than comfort, they will stem building and possibly immobilise someone's neck if they believe they will have spinal injuries.
 
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I'm not a first aider. I did apply to be one at a previous company but was turned down simply because they had had enough people already doing it. But it I were one, then yes I would try to help even if there was a risk of prosecution (which I doubt there is).

If I could help even not being a first aider then I would try.
 
Yes and yes. I think people are worried. About being sued, but thats just rubbish.
Also get an extra day AL every year, so well worth it.
 
First aider here and yes, I would (and have)

A guy fainted/collapsed at the top of an escalator and hit every step down hard (while it was moving up :eek:). Claret everywhere. Was astonished at the gawpers, had to shout for someone to call 999
 
What shocks me is, in this case. Chocking isn't exactly a hard thing to fix when you know how, yes it's a very dangerous procedure (heimlich maneuver) however the steps before doing a heimlich maneuver aren't. Pretty sure it's just trying to remove it from the airway and if that doesn't work patting someone hardly on the back and only then using the heimlich maneuver.
 
d_brennen said:
First aider here and yes, I would (and have)

A guy fainted/collapsed at the top of an escalator and hit every step down hard (while it was moving up :eek:). Claret everywhere. Was astonished at the gawpers, had to shout for someone to call 999
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Similar situation here, someone fell backwards and smacked their head into the edge of a radiator which promptly starting sprewing blood by the bucket out (he had severed a big vein which runs across the scalp, no joke it was like something out a horror movie, the blood spurted onto the ceilings and walls).

I jumped in quickly with a damp (if people want to know why to use a damp cloth, it stops the blood drying and sticking to hair, making for tricky removal when the paramedics do their thing) cloth to apply pressure.

One or 2 people just walked away because they couldnt handle it, and the others just looked on completely bemused like "what do i do".

Had to almost talk someone through how to dial 999 and pass me the phone...
 
People have been sued after performin cpr however it's never been successful. Recently had first aid training and it was highlighted to us then. They did also give advice on how to...avoid upsetting uptight people when you know, saving their life.
 
Absolutely. I've had to train in first aid in order to work at sea, and to that end I've had to do emergency first aid, and as an officer, a further medical course to standards laid down by the International Maritime Organisation.

If someone was in need of those skills, and I stood by and did nothing, then the guilt would plague me for the rest of my days I fear.
 
Hikari Kisugi said:
I do hope she isn't a trained doctor with those qualifications, as she has a duty to interfere where her safety is not risked.
It is part of the oath.
It is part of your liability cover.

If you do not act or drive past an accident or do not at least try you can face the GMC.
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Without going into details she's not quite trained to doctor level but I'd still respect her wishes in an emergency.

From a personal point of view I've only got basic first aid training and I freely admit I'd do my utmost to assist anyone in need and I'd hope they'd do the same for me regardless of any recrimination.
 
i'm not aware that the uk has good samaritan laws yet. so as a first aider you still can be sued. however the first aider can use the mental capacity act for their defence. there's no legal precedent yet iirc.
however if u perform first aid negligently, you still can be sued for negligence
 
I'm a doctor, have helped several times in different situations (car crashes/planes).

Last time was on a flight to New Zealand, diverted a plain due to an unwell passenger, caused over 300 people to miss their connections!

Although the only person to have a legal duty of care is a GP in the area which they practice, I believe ethically it is wrong to fail to act to help in a situation when you have the skills/knowledge to be of use.
 
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The only time I've had to use first aid was at a beach and a young kid was drowning.

Someone else swam out and brought him back to shore. He was out cold so I started doing CPR. Amazingly he actually woke up, something which I'm told is quite rare when I do my first aid courses. His stupid bint of a mother started going crazy at me when the paramedics arrived and told her I'd probably broken some of his ribs.

She never once thanked me or the guy who swam out to retrieve him for saving her sons life.
 
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I'm an out of date first aider and I'd always help where I could, and I have on a few occasions. Unfortunately, it can go wrong for some though.

My friend is a on call fireman, he was in the local pub one night when my 'cousins' (we have the same surname and she calls my cuz but we're not related) mum collapses.

The fireman ended up giving her mouth to mouth as she wasn't breathing. unbeknown to him, she had choked on something and he just managed to lodge it further down her wind pipe. No charges were ever made against him, it was an accident he was trying to help. There's no risk of anyone being sued for trying to help, but you do have to live with the consequences if things go wrong.
 
yes id help. one because its why ive done so much first aid to start with, i do courses through work and also do them off my own back for other things (im a marshal at a 4x4 event etc)

at work i get paid extra to help, so its a bonus.

im also insured for if anything does go wrong (as long as im not doing anything completely stupid)
 
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