First aiders rushed to help nearby office worker.
School staff sprang into action to help a nearby office worker who they feared was in cardiac arrest.
Colleagues at Isaacs Accountants, on nearby Halliwell Street, called the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) when their co-worker Fatemeh Pour started to have difficulty breathing and collapsed. They were told that the school held the nearest registered defibrillator.
After being contacted by call handlers at the North West Ambulance Service, Office Manager Shaheda Bhatia and Senior Site Supervisor Shafiq Patel rushed to help with the machine, blankets and cold compresses. They arrived to find Ms Pour had collapsed due to a severe panic attack brought on by an acute migraine and was slipping in and out of consciousness due to her hyperventilating. She later started fitting and having spasms. Thankfully, they had no need to use the defibrillator, but they administered first aid under the guidance of a call handler.
The teaching of lifesaving skills is taken very seriously at our school and the defibrillator was bought with money fundraised by the pupils. Staff undertake a three-day first aid course, pupils receive first aid training by the NWAS and the school also has 30 resuscitation dummies which boys use during further lifesaving teaching on Restart a Heart Day.
Mrs Bhatia said: “I’ve never had to use First Aid like that, so it was quite frightening. Fortunately, we didn’t have to use the defibrillator, but it is good to know it is there and can be used by the whole of our community in case it is ever needed. We’ve since visited Ms Pour to deliver her some flowers and we are so glad that she has made a full recovery.”
Ms Pour, who spent a few days recovering in hospital and at home but has since returned to work, said: “I am very grateful to both Shaheda and Shafiq for responding to the request for help from the 999 services, they both were extremely kind and supportive during the whole incident. Although, at the time, there was no need to use the defibrillator, it is very reassuring for the whole community to know that there is one nearby.”
Sue Gill-Daintith, Principal, said: “The lady concerned was clearly extremely poorly but thankfully has made a full recovery thanks to the help that Shafiq and Shaheda provided. Their quick actions really demonstrated our school values of Service, Teamwork and Respect in action and they have set a fantastic example to our pupils.”
Added By: Star Academies | Date Added: 5th Aug 2019 | Posted In: Latest News