As Natasha headed home after a routine hospital check-up, she spotted a commotion up ahead. At first she couldn’t make out what was happening – then she saw the pool of blood.
“All I could see from the distance was just this red pool gathering and it was getting bigger and bigger,” Natasha said.
She knew she had to help.
“I don’t know why or what came over me – everyone was flapping and no one was helping. I dropped my bag and ran – I’d say about half a mile down the street!” Natasha said.
A group of young people learning first aid.
The long summer holiday is over – it’s time to head back to school. What’s the most important thing you think pupils will learn this year?
Perhaps they will conquer equations, master French, or triumphantly learn the periodic table off by heart.
But what if they learnt how to save a life?
Up and down the country, people are buzzing with excitement and anticipation – the football season is back.
And while the professionals battle to climb the league tables, we’re enjoying a kickabout, too. Football is part of the weekly routine for over 1.6 million people in England alone.*
Ryan Gayler manages AFC Vardeanians Football Club in Sussex. When his son organised a last-minute friendly between the players from the club, Ryan turned up to watch. He’d hoped to show off his own footy skills with a few minutes of play time towards the end.
But 20 minutes into the match, a head clash stopped play. Ryan was called upon for a different set of skills – first aid.
The summer of sport continues to thrill with the Rio 2016 Olympics in full swing. It’s enough to inspire even the idlest among us to reach for our trainers and get moving. Here one runner shares his incredible story: 109 marathons, inspiring other runners – and what a difference some first aid skills can make.
Since losing 14 stone, Aaron Howlett has run over 100 marathons. Now he helps others train for their first marathon.
But while out running one day, he faced a different sort of challenge after coming across a woman having a seizure.
Thankfully he knew exactly what to do. Would you?
Image credit: Bob Collier
“I’m not usually the sort of person to push myself forward in a crisis – I’m the sort who would stand back and wait for somebody else to act,” Julie Durrant admits.
But on the day she saw a baby choke in a supermarket, nobody came to help. So Julie stepped in.
Remembering a British Red Cross post she had recently seen on Facebook, Julie was able to save the baby.
Big life events can trigger us to re-evaluate what is important in life. Tracey Waddoups from Derbyshire decided it was time for a change after losing her mum Jean to a heart attack at just 61 years old.
“After losing my mum, I decided that I wanted to do something that I am very passionate about,” Tracey explained.
And it turned out that was first aid. Tracey had always enjoyed learning first aid – but mainly as just a hobby.
Now she was ready to make a career out of it, quitting her comfortable job at an IT engineering company for life as a British Red Cross first aid trainer instead.
But she wasn’t just switching careers. Tracey also set herself a monumental challenge in memory of her late mum – to train 6,100 people in first aid.
And just last week she hit her target.
What is that peeking out from behind the clouds? Yes, it’s the sun! Time to head outside and make the most of the better weather.
We’ve got some top first aid tips to help you enjoy a safer summer – wherever you go.
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It’s time to dig out your wellies, dust off your tent and hunt for that hard-earned ticket you spent ages queuing online for. The festival season is upon us.
Whether you’re off to an intimate affair like the Secret Garden Party, or descending upon the pop-up sensation that is Glastonbury – the festival checklist is always the same.
Wellies: check. Trendy (or outrageous) hat: check. A waterproof tent: well, fingers crossed.
Even if you do forget something, you can usually improvise – ask anyone who’s ever rocked the bin-bag poncho look.
But even so, there are a few small things well-worth taking. Don’t forget these five festival essentials.
