vital skills when seconds count

A Yorkshire mum is backing a St John Ambulance campaign to raise awareness of the importance of first aid.
First aid trainingFirst aid training
First aid training

Throughout September, the charity will be giving free first aid demonstrations. The public will learn how to save a life using five easy-to-follow techniques and will receive a free pocket-sized first aid guide to carry in case of emergency.The importance of first aid skills was brought sharply into focus for Bradford mum Afshan Sherbaaz when she returned home as normal on March 13 this year. Her normal day turned out to be one of the most frightening of her life when her then 13 month-old daughter, Aeny, almost lost her life by choking on a piece of popcorn. If it wasn’t for the first aid skills and calm actions of Afshan’s eldest sister, Sumera, little Aeny may not have survived.

Afshan saw Aeny pick up pieces of popcorn left on the floor and when she heard her making strange sounds she acted quickly, removing them from her mouth, but Aeny still struggled to breathe and she knew there was something stuck in her windpipe. She then slapped her on the back, but nothing came out and Aeny started to lose consciousness.

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Afshan panicked when she saw Aeny was in danger and couldn’t breathe. Distraught, she dialled 999 and emergency services staff gave her instructions, but she was so scared and distressed in fear for her little girl’s life, she struggled to speak and began shouting at the operative. At the same time, Afshan’s eldest sister, Sumera, came in from the supermarket and immediately took control, calmly taking her niece and banging her back, before removing the obstruction with her fingers. At last, little Aeny began to breathe, but was still struggling, having had no air for around 2-3 minutes. The ambulance crew quickly stabilised Aeny, before rushing her to hospital where doctors and consultants worked on her. Cameras were inserted into Aeny’s lungs and they finally pulled out a dried corn. Aeny had to remain in hospital for 24 hours. She recovered and is fine now.

Afshan said: “This was the worst experience in my life. I am so thankful that my sister Sumera came in when she did and was so brave in taking control of the situation, using first aid skills to help save my little girl. I am so grateful to all the emergency and ambulance services, they are real life heroes. Having been through such a traumatic experience, I can see how important it is to know basic first aid. We all believe that these are the services that change lives. First aid is such a basic thing to learn and can be the difference between life and death. I would urge everyone to get along to one of the Save a Life September free first aid training sessions.”

www.sja.org.uk/sals

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