An 84-year-old woman has praised first aid training for providing her with the skills to save her husbands life. Only a week after completing the first aid programme, Poole pensioner, Jane Holt, was required to put her newly-learned first aid skills to practice. Mrs Holt cares full time for her husband Peter who suffers with Dementia. She undertook the programme to enable her to cope with the demands of her caring role.
It was while sitting in the conservatory of their Hamworthy home that Mrs Holt realised something wasn’t quite right with her husband. He had suddenly lost the use of one side of his body, gone blind in one eye and was slurring his speech. She swiftly swung into action and dialled 999.
'I was aware that as I was talking to the emergency services that the ambulance would be on its way, I was able to remain calm and give all the information I was asked for.'
As a direct result of the course she was able to recognise her husband's symptoms using the FAST method and take the appropriate action.
'First aid can be the difference between a life lost and a life saved. I knew what to do and what to say and was able to stay calm knowing help was on its way,' she said.
