Game On

Gordonstoun hosted its annual Junior Highland Games today.

In the green grounds where "even the grass seemed posh," there was many a spectacle to be seen. An all day BBQ (yummers) with lush burgers for sale; a tent set up by the youngsters with face painting, tombolas and several stalls; a larger tent containing merchandice stalls (they sold googley-eyed ambo figures!) and another big tent which provided cakes and tea all day to the many spectators witnessing the games of the day.

Actually, the games looked like quite good fun. I wouldn't have minded lobbing a haggis across a field, or battering someone with a pillow off a slippery log, or flexing my muscles in a tug-of-war match... hah, muscles...
A few ideas for some RC fundraising events?

Plus there were two pipe bands to entertain the crowds, and an abundance of other smaller shop stalls each flogging their finest, hand-crafted goodies. If I'd had any cash on me, I would have been tempted to buy the odd necklace or two; there really were some good things out for sale.

Oh, and there was Gordonstoun's very own fire engine, with it's youngster fire cadet crew. I so wanted a shot of firing down several traffic cones with a jet of water. Just to impress a rather cute water-fairy (yes, that is a firey, in case no one gets the slang) who was, according to Caitlind, checking me out near by - ch-ching! *...Ahem*
Plus traffic cones are the new bane of my life... but that's a story for another time.
Alas, I never got a shot of the hose, but I did meet an old school mate of mine who had escaped to Gordonstoun a couple of years ago. That's something.

Anyhoo, after our nostalgic trip down memory lane, well, that's when we got our excitement fix.
Ironically, I had just said to Caitlind how quiet it had been, and how it would make things a little more interesting if something happened for us - preferably a paper cut - when a man came running up behind us.
"Excuse me! Someone's collapsed down there!"
Oh God.
A first aider never runs, a first aider never runs... Ok, we're running!
We reached the casualty without any direction - the guy hadn't even pointed us the right way and yet somehow we managed to find our way almost automatically through the crowds, as though we had a built in casualty-radar or first aid sat-nav.
It was an elderly woman - in her eighties - and by the looks of it, she was having some sort of mild seizure. She was definitely confused and didn't look well at all.
Caitlind took control while I dashed to RE6 to grab the trolley bed, while Charile joined in and fetched a blanket.
We loaded the poor woman up onto the bed and took her round to the ambo, where Christine set up the O2 for her and Charlie filled out a PRF, while I dialled for an ambulance. Worryingly, we were told that she had a history of a heart defect. She had been recently issued with new medication for the condition - a leaking valve - but for the past few days she and her family had suspected it to be disagreeing with her. Our casualty vomited. Perhaps it was just the medication? However, her underlying symptoms suggested otherwise. Caitlind later suspected an absent seizure - a mild fit - but for the time being, in all the excitement, we were suspecting the heart.
The ambulance arrived. I gave the handover to the paramedic crew, who transferred her to their own vehicle. She was stable but tired and somewhat confused, and I couldn't blame her. Whilst first aiding gives you a buzz, I imagine that to be the casualty on the other end of the line with a problem which is resting in the hands of total strangers (who in truth have no medical qualifications other than those gained in basic/enhanced training) must be a daunting experience. Also, to not have encountered such an episode before until now would make you feel worried, scared and confused too.
On bringing these points together, it makes you realise just how important it is to get medical history, and how vital patient care is; building that brief, trusting relationship between yourself as a first aider and the casualty is key to establishing effective care and treatment, which is needed to reassure the casualty and promote the beginnings of recovery; the effect that first aid should have.
Wow, that should totally be incorporated into one of my health care essays. I've come over all nursey now =P
But on reflection it is totally true.

So we sent her on her way, with praise from her family - and I quote: "When you came over, I thought you girls looked far too young to do anything, but you are both brilliant."
Yay ^-^

Thankfully, this story has a happy ending. The woman was seen to be fine and was discharged from hospital after various check ups and monitoring. Hopefully she won't have to face an episode like that again.

Another day saved by the amazing first aid duo, me thinks =]