A man who attended a St John Ambulance first aid course just last week found his skills were called on when he helped at the scene of an accident on Monday.
 
Wayne Duggan was driving one of his two children to an after-school sports session when he chanced upon congestion outside Castle Rushen High School.
 
Year 7 pupil George Dalton Brown had been in collision with a car, leaving him lying injured in the road and leaving the driver in shock.
 
Wayne, 43, said first aid advice he was reminded of only a week earlier, when he attended a two-day first aid certificate requalification course at St John Ambulance, proved vital.
 
Wayne surveyed the scene for danger and used his car to block traffic, as course tutor Ian Gaynor had spoken of, then went to the boy’s aid.
 
‘People were rallying round but didn’t necessarily know what to do and I heard someone behind me shout ‘does anyone have any first aid’?’ said the 43-year-old, who lives in Colby.
 
Wayne prevented well-meaning bystanders from moving George and established he had hurt his leg. He comforted the upset 12-year-old.
 
Wayne remembered to conduct the primary survey – the first aid technique in which a patient’s response, breathing and circulation are checked.
 
‘I then noticed the lady driving the car was in shock. She was pale and sweaty and was looking a bit lost. I sat the lady down and reassured her that help was on its way, then ran to the car to get a blanket for George,’ he said.
 
When paramedics arrived, Wayne was able to give them the history of the event and assisted them in getting George into a collar, supporting his neck in the way he’d been taught, and onto a spinal stretcher, ready for transfer to the ambulance.
 
George was detained in hospital but it now back at school – thankfully with just a few bruises to show for his ordeal. His mum, Tracey, said: ‘George was very fortunate that the first few adults on the scene, both parents and teachers, had some basic first aid training and took decisive action in keeping George calm and still until the paramedics arrived. It is also a relief to know that the same care and attention was given to the driver of the car George ran into.’
 
As a duty officer at the National Sports Centre, Wayne has put his first aid skills to the test when people have fainted or suffered minor injuries. He was relieved he knew what to do in a more serious situation.
 
‘It just goes to show the importance of learning first aid and knowing what to do and, just as importantly, what not to do in the event of an emergency,’ he said.
 
‘I did nothing special but I felt that this shows the importance of St John Ambulance and its training, as without this I feel I would have not been confident enough to have been so heavily involved.
 
‘I would like to give all the St John Ambulance team a well done, especially Ian Gaynor, whose own experiences helped me with this incident.’
 
For further information about St John Ambulance Isle of Man or to find out how to sign up for first aid courses, volunteer or support its work via donations, please ring 01624 674387 or visit www.sja.org.uk/sja/counties/isle-of-man.aspx.

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