Saved by DR ABC

By Bridget Cook
IT WAS a first aid acronym, DR ABC, which inevitably earned Jasmine McPhee the title of hero in the eyes of a Berwick family.
Jasmine, 23, used her first aid knowledge when Ron Childs suffered a heart attack at Dan Murphy’s in Berwick on Sunday 8 March.
Berwick resident Mr Childs, 67, had a heart attack at about 11am and split his head when he fell.
Jasmine said she saw that he was unconscious and bleeding and just had a strong instinct that she needed to help.
About eight years ago Jasmine learned basic first aid when she was a student at St Margaret’s School in Berwick, but she had never needed to use it.
Jasmine said that DR ABC helped her to stay calm as it gave her a structured approach to follow.
“I didn’t panic; I just thought this man needs help and I need to help him,” she said.
DR ABC stands for Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, and CPR.
Jasmine followed that structure.
She checked for surrounding dangers, tried to get a response from Ron, checked his airway then his pulse and conducted CPR before an ambulance arrived. Mr Child’s daughter Maryn Armour said she had been in contact with Jasmine and, needless to say, was very grateful for her first aid effort.
“She was the only one there who took any action.
“She had enough incentive to just get on with it,” Ms Armour said.
Jasmine said what she did was not heroic. She just did what she thought was necessary at the time.
“The biggest reward was the relief when I found out that my actions had actually helped,” she said.
Mr Childs is now making a strong recovery at Dandenong Hospital.
What surprised Jasmine most was that she was the one at the scene who seemed to have the most extensive knowledge.
“I only have a basic understanding, but of about 50 people there, I had enough depth of knowledge,” she said.
Jasmine is now going to a first aid refresher course and wants to encourage people to do the same.
First aid courses are available through St John Ambulance. For details contact 1300 360 455.