Young First Aider of the Year Awards

The prestigious St John's Ambulance Young First Aider of the Year Awards was held at their HQ at St John's Gate, London on Saturday 31 May 2008. Of all the subjects taught by the ACF First Aid is one of the most important and beneficial. Therefore it is a huge achievement that seven Army Cadets from across Britain were nominated for the medal for outstanding First Aid action.

The day included a guided tour of St John's Priory and Church and lunch, followed by the Award Ceremony. The medals were presented to the nominees by Martin Bell OBE, a former broadcast war reporter and former independent politician.

Corporal Jamie Ayling, Cornwall ACF, was taking part in the Ten Tors walk with other members of the Cornwall ACF. The weather conditions were bad, with high winds and rain. The group came to a river that would normally have been straightforward to cross but, due to the rain, was swollen and fast flowing. Jamie crossed the river first, getting extremely wet. A fellow member then attempted to cross but fell in and begun to be swept away. Jamie immediately went to her assistance and managed to pull her out of the river. They decided to carry on despite being cold and wet, but the weather deteriorated into thick fog and ever stronger winds. Jamie's friend started to become weak and dizzy and was showing signs of hypothermia. They found shelter where she was able to change into dry clothes while others went for help. The girl was safely picked up by rescue services and the rest of the team carried on to the next checkpoint.

Lance Corporal Jade Redding, Hampshire and Isle of White ACF, was on the school bus which was just moving off; when an 11 year old student tried to board and was dragged underneath. Jade immediately went to help the boy. She realised that, although he was still conscious he was seriously injured. Jade instructed the shocked bus driver to turn the engine off. Then she directed the panicking students to clear the area and asked another student to call the Emergency Services. Jade crawled under the bus and found the casualty in shock. However, she was unable to apply First Aid because of the confined space. Jade spoke to the casualty to ensure he remained conscious, and held his hand telling him to squeeze it when in pain. She remained with the boy until paramedics arrived on the scene.

Corporal Claire Sneddon, Black Watch Battalion ACF, was returning from her holiday in the Canary Islands. As she was getting off the bus in the airport she saw a gentleman collapse. The man's wife put him in the recovery position, but despite this his condition quickly deteriorated. Claire could see that his pupils were constricting and that he had difficulty breathing and was turning blue. The casualty then stopped breathing. Claire turned the man onto his back and checked his airway but still did not detect any signs of breathing, so she began administering compressions and instructed the man's wife to give him rescue breaths. After a couple of cycles the man started breathing again. On regaining consciousness the casualty was disorientated, so Claire reassured him and made sure he was comfortable. The gentleman was taken to hospital where he spent three days recovering before he was able to return home to the UK.

Sergeant Rebecca Grayell-Rees, Dyfed ACF, was with her younger sister Megan and friend Nathan when she witnessed a car swerving off the road. Rebecca's friend telephoned the Emergency Services while her sister controlled the crowds. Rebecca took charge of the situation, directing passers and checking on the casualty's injuries and response. The casualty was unconscious and trapped inside the car, but still breathing. Rebecca climbed in the back seat of the car and held the victim's head to restrict movement and to minimise possible spinal injuries. She spoke reassuringly to the casualty until paramedics arrived.

Lance Corporal Ryan Lloyd, Surrey ACF, was in a playground with his friend when he witnessed a man being hit and violently knocked to the ground. The casualty sustained serious head injuries and was bleeding severely. Ryan approached the casualty and assailant and then called an ambulance when he realised the casualty was badly hurt. The victim was unconscious, so Ryan put him in the recovery position until the ambulance arrived. Ryan managed to stay calm and care for the casualty despite receiving threats from the assailant before he ran away. Ryan stayed with the victim until the paramedics arrived. The casualty underwent emergency surgery and remained in a neurology unit for three weeks after the incident.

Sergeant Major Jamie van Oppen, Hampshire and Isle of White ACF, was at home with his parents when his father was stung by a bee. Half an hour later Jamie's dad started to look pale and his neck began to swell. Jamie asked him to take an antihistamine, but he was too shaky to hold the glass of water. Jamie's father then passed out in Jamie's arms, so he told his mother to call 999. My van Oppen was suffering from severe anaphylactic shock, which Jamie recognised from the rash that was spreading over his body. Jamie put his father in the recovery position but he was unable to breathe easily and could only gasp for air. Jamie rolled his unconscious father onto his back and tilted his head back to allow more oxygen through his airway. When the ambulance arrived, Jamie's father was given oxygen and medication to improve his condition. The van Oppen's then drove to the hospital in their car rather than the ambulance. Jamie kept his father warm, as he was cold from shock, and continued to monitor his condition. When Mr van Oppen was discharged from hospital, the doctor explained to Jamie that if it has not been for his First Aid skills his father may have died.

Special mention must also be given to Jamie Smith, a St John's Ambulance Cadet, who is also a member of Gloucester ACF. Jamie looked after a casualty who had turned his car over in an accident on a busy road. The car engine was smoking and the casualty had been drinking so was behaving aggressively. Jamie persisted with treating the casualty who had sustained a deep cut to his face and was suffering from shock. Members of the public at the scene recognised Jamie's professional and confidence manner and stood aside, allowing him to take control of the situation and care for the casualty. By the time paramedics had arrived Jamie had stopped the blood flow from the victim's face.