By Bridie Byrne
IN A dire situation people such as Mathew Biles and Aleshia King would be a blessing: Both were winners at the Victorian First-Aid competition on 9 August.
Wyndham divisional superintendent Tony Mesman said he was proud of their achievements.
“Competitors were given a scene of made-up patients with injuries, then they had to assess and treat the patients and get a full history for a handover to paramedics when they arrive,” he said.
Hoppers Crossing resident Mathew Biles won the Open Individual Cadet section and will represent Victoria in the national titles held in Canberra in February 2009.
“At the state final his job consisted of two workers doing some plaster work, who fell off the plank, which hit the other person. Injuries ranged from a broken wrist, open wound to leg with bone sticking out, head and spinal injuries,” Mr Mesman said.
“At 17 years old Mathew has already been involved in resuscitation of a heart attack patient at Telstra Dome, which he learnt how to do from training in the St John Cadet division.
“He hopes to become a doctor or a paramedic.”
A Wyndham cadet for five years Aleisha King, 13, won the Cadet section as an individual.
“Her job consisted of one person who was bitten all over by bullants and got a reaction from them and a badly sprained ankle,” he said.
Only cadets 16 and over can only represent Victoria at the nationals.
“With the nationals you don’t know what situation they will throw at you so during training we practised with make-up patients who have severe bleeding, spinal injuries and heart attacks,” he said.
The cadets, aged eight to 18, train each Tuesday from 7pm to 8.30pm.
For information contact Tony Mesman on 0408 580 455.
