30 July 2012
©InfoOver the weekend, 174 volunteers and staff from the British Red Cross provided first aid support to visitors to London. They helped 35 people, including a man who collapsed at Liverpool Street station on the night before his wedding.
First aid cover in London
Anthony was heading home to St Albans to watch the Olympics opening ceremony when he became disorientated in the heat and collapsed. Volunteers Sam Charlton and Minali Perera and trained ambulance crew member Jack Guishard responded quickly, helping him to rest and drink fluids.
"I feel so much better," said Anthony. "I would like to thank you all so much for helping me today. I'm getting married tomorrow so, thanks to you, I can get home and get ready!"
Sam, Minali and Jack were part of a team of Red Cross first aiders stationed at major London stations to support visitors during the Olympic period.
Cycle responders in Weymouth
©InfoIn Dorset, 165 Red Cross volunteers and staff have been looking after crowds of visitors to Weymouth.
Over the weekend they helped 103 people, including Brian Kellow, who collapsed while watching Olympic sailing events on the big screen on Weymouth beach. Red Cross volunteers Dane Smith and Darren Oldham swiftly responded and put their advanced first aid skills into practice.
“The bicycles allow us to move quickly through the crowds, so as soon as we heard that Mr Kellow had collapsed, we were able to respond immediately,” Dane explained. “The bicycles have equipment you would normally find on an ambulance, such as oxygen, defibrillators and items for treating cuts and sprains.”
“We are delighted to be in Weymouth,” Darren Oldham added. “We might not be as fast as Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins, but we can cut through the crowds to provide help wherever it’s needed.”
Find out more about where we’ll be helping out over the next few weeks, and keep up with our activity on our blog.
