© 2007 M J Oliver Dyfed A.C.F.

Five Cadets from Dyfed ACF have won the prestigious St John’s Ambulance Young First Aider of the Year Award. Sergeant Rebecca Grayell-Rees, Cadet Megan Grayell-Rees and Lance Corporal Nathan Farrer from Haverfordwest detachment, E Squadron, First The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, were presented their certificates on 9 February by the Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed The Hon. Robin Lewis, OBE. Cadet Alun Sykes and Cadet Evan Rowbottom from Aberystwyth detachment, Welsh Guards, will be presented with their certificates in the very near future. Rebecca was also recommended for the medal, which she will receive at St John’s Gate, London, on 31 May.

                   Rebecca, Megan and Nathan witnesed a car swerving off the road outside the TA Centre on 26 September 2007. After checking for danger, Megan took control of the gathering crowds,Nathan phoned the Emergency Services and Rebecca gave Emergency Aid. She tested the victim’s response, to which the casualty could only grunt. While performing the top to toe search, she noticed that there was blood on the airbag, which she assumed came from a head wound. She then climbed into the front passenger seat to check the airway. After assuring that it was clear and the victim was breathing, she restricted movement by holding the head. She did this to minimise possible spinal injuries and, because the victim was moving around in an unconscious state, to

make sure the probable head wound could not get any worse. She continued to talk ncouragingly to the casualty until the Emergency Services arrived shortly afterward.

             Alun and Evan were on their way home on 7 February, after an ACF parade night, when they noticed two crashed cars on the A487. The first car had smashed into a wall and had debris of medal, glass and fuel surrounding it. The boys checked for danger and then a response from the victim. The casualty was fully conscious and speaking, although he boys’ couldn’t understand what he was saying. His legs were hanging out of the car, both his shoulders were dislocated and his fingers were crushed under the steering wheel; wo of which had been completely bent back. It was at this point the boys called the Emergency Services. After several minutes of mumbling the victim finally said that there was a second car further up the road. Alun ran to check the second casualty while Evan stayed with the first. The second car had its engine ripped out of its bonnet, which was ying on the side of the road. This victim was unconscious and completely trapped inside the vehicle. Alun said ‘It was like he was wearing his car’. By this time the accident had generated a lot of interest, so the boys began managing the gathering crowds and alerting traffic about the accident. Evan even ran down the road to tell an AA man, who happened to be parked nearby, about the incident. He also helped to control the oncoming traffic.

When Evan returned he stayed with the first casualty while Alun remained with the second. Alun then noticed that the discarded engine had started smoking. Worried that the heat and smoke would ignite all the spilt fuel on the road, he ran to a bus that had been stopped because of the accident, and borrowed its fire extinguisher. However, when he returned to the scene it wasn’t needed. The boys spoke reassuringly to both victims until the Emergency services arrived.

     Dyfed ACF are exceptionally proud of the way these cadets handled two very stressful situations. They all demonstrated completely calm and efficient attitudes and were rightly rewarded for their actions.

By Sergeant Darija Mann   Dyfed ACF PRO

 Five Dyfed A C F Cadets

   For First Aid Awards

The British Legion affiliation ceremony held at             Haverfordwest Detachment April 28th 2008.

 Young First Aider of the Year Award