©InfoA fun pantomime rehearsal took a sudden turn for the worse when one of the actors was scalded by a hot drink – but luckily someone was on hand to play the role of first aider.
Jill McLaughlin was rehearsing with the Holcombe village players in Devon late last year when the incident occurred. During a coffee break, Jill’s elderly neighbour accidentally bumped into his wife and she spilled a scalding cupful down her front.
Jill recalled: “I turned to see her stagger backwards gasping, and realised the hot coffee had gone through her jumper onto her skin. After asking all the men to leave the room, I lifted the poor lady’s jumper and pulled her bra away from her skin. Then I called to the ladies in the kitchen for a cloth and cold water and immediately started to apply cold water to her chest area.”
Swift action
Jill’s quick-thinking and fast reactions were crucial, because the key to treating any burn or scalding injury is to get cold water on the affected area as soon as possible. Luckily, the amateur actor knew exactly what to do thanks to a Red Cross training at work course she had recently attended through her job at the Met Office, where she gained a first aid at work certificate.
She added: “I kept treating the injured area until the redness went down. Her husband was very apologetic – and also in a bit of shock, I think – so I asked him and another friend to go home and get some dry clothes.”
Ready to respond
When they returned, the casualty changed into dry clothes but was still shaking slightly so Jill cared for her throughout the rehearsal – and even kept an eye on her once she had been driven home. Thanks to the first aider’s swift action, there was no blistering and no mark left.
Looking back upon the incident, Jill was struck by how suddenly emergency situations can occur – and pleased at how quickly she was able to react and put her skills to good use. She said: “If it hadn’t been for my first aid training the lady probably would have had some scarring from the scald and have needed a trip to hospital.”
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