When medical emergencies occur, it is vital that there are people around with the necessary skills and knowledge to offer effective assistance. In certain cases, the presence of someone like this can save a life.
One man who is promoting first aid training among youngsters is football coach Peter Bates. One of the boys he trains suffered a cardiac arrest during a recent match, the BBC reports.
Quinton Barham was playing for Bradford Town YFC when he left the pitch feeling dizzy and subsequently collapsed. The 13-year-old was taken to hospital in Bristol where he was treated before undergoing heart bypass surgery.
According to Mr Bates, the boy’s life was saved because a parent knew CPR and the club they were playing in Bromham had a defibrillator.
Since the incident, Bradford Town YFC has invested in a defibrillator for its ground.
Meanwhile, Ms Bates has called for compulsory first aid training courses in schools and said the case involving Quiton should be held up as evidence of the importance of effective first aid equipment and training.
He said: “I think maybe this should be perhaps taken as a good practise story. [It should be] advertised what happened and how it happened. The reason that Quinny is probably alive now is that so many of these things were in place. If we can make sure that’s the same in every game, every club, then that will be a bonus.”
Also commenting on the issue, Bob Maitland, who has promised to help the team with its new equipment, remarked: “It’s one of those things that you don’t really know how important it is until it happens.”
Last year, footballer Patrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest during a televised FA Cup match between Bolton and Tottenham Hotspur. The incident highlighted the importance of effective first aid.