Training helped save man's life

Cameron Boon

13Nov09

Officers Quentin Norton, Jillian Finn and Nathan Oswin (kneeling) with Alex Muir.

ROOKIE St John Ambulance volunteers tested their newly-acquired skills when a speedway competitor suffered a heart attack. 
 
The emergency took place on Saturday, October 31 -- barely a week after the volunteers completed training.

Deputy operations manager of St John Ambulance Alice Springs, Peter Monks, said the competitor, in his 50s, was in the middle of a race when he suffered a cardiac arrest.

He said: "The volunteers sprang into action and helped stabilise him before the ambulance officers arrived on the scene and took him to hospital.

"He was actually a friend of the operations manager at the event.

"He's expected to make a full recovery.''

A training exercise was held at Arunga Park Speedway on Wednesday, October 21. A number of volunteers were assessed at the exercise.

Mr Monks said: "We have a system where people who know a little bit of first aid come in and we top their knowledge up.

"After they've done the course we assess them in a mock-emergency situation.''

Mr Monks said another man has a heart attack last week while golfing.

Alex Muir, 67, was unconscious when the golfers he was with performed CPR and called the ambulance.

Mr Monks said: "He's OK now, thanks to the officers."It was one of the situations where everything that could have possibly gone right, did.

"The people he was with ran to the club, where the employees called us.

"We then gave them instructions over the phone while they waited for the ambulance to arrive."

The officers arrived with an emergency team. They shocked him and then took him to hospital.

"He's also expected to make a full recovery.''

On Wednesday this week the same paramedics who assisted Mr Muir on the golf course, transported him to the RFDS for further treatment in Adelaide.

Mr Muir said:  "A big thank you for all the work you all did to bring me back. The family is really grateful.''