First aid trainer Jock McGowan took action when his lesson was interrupted by a real-life emergency.
In January 2013 the experienced Red Cross trainer was getting ready to share life-saving knowledge at a community centre in the village of Crossgar in County Down, Northern Ireland.
But before the session could begin, a passer-by ran into the building and said a woman had been knocked down by a reversing car outside.
Jock dashed to help the victim, showing that you never know when first aid skills will come in handy. Afterwards, he said: “There’s no point me teaching it if I can’t do it myself.”
Into action
Jock checked the woman for injuries and realised that she had damaged her ankle. He helped her to a sitting position and kept her warm, calm and comforted until more help could arrive.
Emotions were running high and drivers and passengers began to argue while standing over the distraught accident victim. Jock said: “I told them, in no uncertain terms, to take their argument somewhere else.”
With the victim taken care of, he went back inside to finish his training session – making sure more people are ready and willing to act in a crisis.
Not the first interruption
Jock joined the Red Cross in 1981, and January’s incident was not the first time he’s interrupted a training session to practise what he preaches.
He said: “I was giving a talk to nurses in Belfast and half way through some one collapsed outside. I thought it was a joke at first.”
On that occasion Jock kept the victim – who was recovering from treatment for cancer – awake and alert while an ambulance rushed to the scene.
