Carer support programme saves a life

A mother and carer from Dorset saved her disabled sons life after receiving vital training from the St John Ambulance Carer support  programme.

Stephanie King, who looks after her disabled son Matthew who has a learning disability, was grateful she had attended the Carers support programme aimed at helping carers.

After she had finished feeding her son his evening meal, Matthew started choking. Stephanie took him out of his wheelchair and placed him on the floor. She placed him on his knees and started doing five back slaps and five abdominal thrusts.

Matthew, then stopped breathing. She started resuscitation, and only when she became exhausted did Stephanie place him in the recovery position and ran to her next door neighbours' Ken and Judy Rickman who phoned for an ambulance.

When the paramedics arrived they managed to revive Matthew.  Stephanie said: 'If I had not attended the St John Ambulance Carers support programme I would not have known what to do. St John Ambulance gave me the knowledge and confidence to help save my son's life.'

Julie McDermott, Care Training and Development Manager for St John Ambulance, Dorset, said: 'Caring for someone at home is a tough job. Most carers have very little experience prior to taking on such a great responsibility. As part of the Carers support programme, emergency and basic first aid skills are taught based around accidents that are likely to occur in the home, along with safe handling and information about how to keep both the carer and the person they care for well.'

If you are caring for someone living at home in Bournemouth, the next course in your area commences on Wednesday 16 January 2008.  For more information about all the courses and future carers events to be held throughout Dorset in 2008, please contact Julie McDermott on 01305 751162 or Georgia Tiller on 01202 635912.