500 (Headcorn) Squadron Air Cadet's First Aid Dash
On Saturday 28th June 2008 Matthew Holdgate 14 yrs a cadet at 500 (Headcorn) Squadron ATC in Kent Wing and two of his cadet colleagues, was asked by the organisers of a 10k Fun Run to assist in marshalling the race. Matthew’s boring job was to direct runners to turn left at a road junction. It was a hot sunny day, so at least that was a bonus.
Things changed however an hour later when a couple of runners told Matthew that a runner had fallen into a hedge 100 yds further up the road. Matthew went to investigate and found one of the runners had indeed collapsed and had ended up in a bramble hedge. Matthew had recently passed the Heartstart First Aid Course run by his Squadron and immediately put into practice what he had learnt.
DRAB:
Matthew assessed the area for any danger; spoke to the runner, who was incoherent and confused; noticed that the runner was beathing heavily, and
had many cuts to his back.
Matthew telephoned the emergency services and requested an ambulance. While doing so he trickled cold water over the runner’s head and covered him with his jacket. When the ambulance service answered, Matthew calmly gave them a situation report and was told not to move the runner, or give him any food or drink. A community paramedic was dispatched.
In the meantime a car pulled up and told Matthew that they would put the runner in the car and take him to the finish line. Matthew politely, but firmly, told the driver that the runner was not to be moved, and that a paramedic was on his way. The driver accepted Matthew’s instructions and drove off.
A few minutes later the paramedic arrived and was given a situation report by Matthew as he gathered together his equipment. A check by the paramedic revealed that the runner had very low blood pressure and needed oxygen to assist his breathing. An ambulace arrived shortly afterwards and conveyed the runner to A&E.
The runner was diagnosed with suffering from exhaustion and later released from hospital. This was his first race and he had not eaten or drunk anything prior to the race.