WHEN 18-year-old Nicole Donkin started choking on a piece of meat in a restaurant, her mother, Sam, knew just what to do.
Sam and Nicole both had St John Ambulance first aid training as part of their qualifications to run a pre-school group But neither of them knew how vital the knowledge would prove to be. Sam, 40, said: “We were having a meal when Nicole started to choke. It was very alarming – especially when Nicole’s face turned blue.”
Nicole’s mother put into practice her training and executed a number of sharp abdominal thrusts to clear the blockage.
“It worked first time. The whole restaurant cheered and the manager brought round whiskies for everyone because they were so relieved,” said Sam, who runs the Serendipity pre-school group, in Cockerton, Darlington.
“I am so grateful to my St John trainer, Brian Turnbull.”
The mother-and-daughter are now on another St John paediatric and early years first aid course.
The 12-hour course is being offered at a number of venues across County Durham.
To book a place on a course, visit sja.org.uk/training
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