St John Ambulance volunteer makes a plea for more first aiders following road traffic collision.

 

A St John Ambulance volunteer who came to the aid of a

seriously injured motorcyclist has urged more people to learn first aid. Dan Shearing, 21, was the only person at the scene of the

accident in Hanham, Bristol, last Monday (January 14) who knew what to do to

help the biker, who had sustained a badly broken leg during the collision on

Hanham High Street with the junction of Green Bank Road.

 

Dan, who volunteers with the Keynsham unit, had been

returning from work with the Heart FM Angels when he came across the incident

just before 7pm.

 

He said his St John Ambulance training automatically

kicked when he realised someone had been injured.

 

'I was on my way home and the traffic was building up. I

realised that there was debris in the road and then I saw several people

standing around a figure in the road.

 

'I went over and explained that I was a trained St John

Ambulance first aider and there was no-one else at the scene who knew what to

do. It was very obvious that the motorcyclist had a badly broken leg so I

assessed him for other injuries and treated him as necessary

 

'It was important to keep him calm and still and another

person rang for an ambulance as I reassured him and made sure that his leg was

kept stable and supported.'

 

Other emergency services then arrived and took over the

care of the biker. The man was then taken to Frenchay Hospital.

 

Dan, who joined the charity as a Cadet when he was 15,

added: 'This incident really illustrates for me the importance of knowing what

to do in a medical emergency. There was no-one else there who could have helped

and you never know how severe someone's injuries may be. I am glad I was able

to help and I hope my story encourages more people to learn first aid.'

 

Karen Brooks, District Manager for St John Ambulance,

said: 'Dan did exactly what he should have done and it must have been very

reassuring for the injured man who have him there.

 

'It does prove that you never know when you may need to

use your first aid – up to 140,000* people die every year in situations where

first aid may have saved them.'

 

For more about first aid training and community courses in

your area or to get involved as a volunteer visit www.sja.org.uk or contact 0117 953 3880.