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First aid by fellow worker saves builder after fall from roof
Prompt first aid by a roofer has saved the life of a colleague who fell from a roof near Chelmsford in Essex. The quick thinking workman applied CPR before the Essex Air Ambulance arrived on the scene.
A paramedic said: “The patient’s workmate was carrying out CPR . I encouraged him to continue CPR while I prepared the defibrillator. Once the pads were on, the patient was shocked once and we managed to get a pulse back. ”
He went on describe the first aid provided as “a brilliant joint effort. It is rare to get a patient back once they’re in cardiac arrest. This shows how giving first aid in those vital first moments can help improve the chances of survival.”
The injured man was flown to hospital in London suffering from fractures.
Comment: First aid is often seen as the ‘poor relation’ within a health and safety management system. This incident demonstrates how training and quick thinking can save a life. It would be better to have prevented the fall but there is certainly one man who is glad that a colleague knew what to do when he did fall.