IN a life-saving coincidence, David Porter threw aside a manikin to perform first aid on a real-life patient.
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National First Aid was conducting a level three first-aid training session for McCains employees
at Buninyong Golf Club last Wednesday.
Manikins were strewn across the floor and Mr Porter was showing the group how to fit oxygen units to
a patient.
Meanwhile, a Probus Club meeting was being held in the next room where a man was suffering an angina attack after walking up a set of stairs.
A Probus member rushed into the room for assistance.
Dumbfounded students watched as Mr Porter tended to the patient and helped him fix an oxygen mask to the patient’s face.
“As it turns out we had manikins all over the floor and oxygen units. We were also doing mouth-to-mask and how to bag an patient,” Mr Porter said.
“I went in and had a look at him, and he looked pretty average, he apparently had ongoing angina.
“We put the oxygen mask on him, and got him to hold it against his face and he started feeling better. Then he was treated with his angina medication.”
Mr Porter said the man held the same luck as someone who had won Tattslotto.
“I’ve never heard of it happening before,” Mr Porter said. “It’s like winning Tattslotto. I don’t think there’s any oxygen at the golf club, so it was lucky we were there.
“The signs and symptoms are very similar to a heart attack; the worst case scenario is bypass surgery.”
Angina is chest pain or discomfort caused by insufficient blood flow and oxygen to the muscle of the heart.
In most cases the lack of blood flow is due to a narrowing of the coronary arteries.
Mr Porter remained with the patient who was in a stable condition until a MICA unit arrived.
david.jeans@fairfaxmedia.com.au