25/02/13 teen who used first aid skills to help when a girl collapsed at school - John Port School, Main Street, Etwall Boy who used first aid skills to help when girl collapsed, John Port school....Joe Gundel / Ffyon John..A SOUTH Derbyshire schoolboy has been praised after he put his first aid skills into action when a classmate suffered a seizure.
Sixteen-year-old Joe Grundel sprung into action when Ffyon John suffered the seizure during a physics lesson at John Port School, in Etwall.
It was a case of being in the right place at the right time for Joe, from Willington, who had knowledge of first aid as he was a St John Ambulance cadet.
Following the incident, Joe stressed the importance of more people being trained in first aid.
Ffyon does not have a history of seizures and it was the first time she hadsuffered one at school, but as others froze Joe rushed over to his stricken classmate, placed a coat under her head and ensured the area was clear.
He also explained what had happened to the school nurse, as Ffyon was still unconscious when she arrived.
He said: “We were in a physics lesson and it just happened all of a sudden, but I immediately realised that I knew what to do to help. My first aid knowledge from St John Ambulance instinctively kicked in, and I feel proud that I was able to be the difference on that day.”
Carl Makins, district manager for St John Ambulance in Derbyshire, said: “Joe is to be congratulated for what he did to help Ffyon. You never know when you might need first aid – at home, at school or just out and about.
St John Ambulance is continually on the lookout for volunteers to take up first aid training and Joe is joining their calls.
He added: “Since then teachers have been saying to me that they heard what I did to help Ffyon and how impressed they were. A lot of my friends are keen to learn first aid now too, and they may inquire about becoming St John Ambulance volunteers.
First aid is a vital skill for everyone to have. I would recommend that everyone learn.”
