Editorial: First aid basics can be a lifesaver

Having basic knowledge of first aid could save someone's life.

If a medical emergency played out before you, would you know what to do?

For most of us, it would be a call to 111 - but what about in the time it takes until help arrived?

Thankfully there are people like Jaide Neilson around.

The 17-year-old student was working a shift at Lady Jane's Ice Cream Parlour last week when a Japanese tourist was hit by a car outside her workplace.

Thanks to a first-aid course she completed while studying, the teenager knew just what to do and swung into action - putting her skills to the test in a real-life situation.

Speaking to the Rotorua Daily Post about the incident, Jaide said it was a prime reason why everyone should do a first-aid certificate.

The skills she'd learnt in the classroom meant she was able to make sure the man wasn't moved, and keep others calm until an ambulance arrived.

It's a pretty stellar effort for someone so young.

We all hope we'll never come across a situation where our skills - or lack of them - are relied upon during those crucial few minutes before help arrives.

I can pretty confidently say in a similar situation, I'm not sure I'd be so calm and collected.

My first-aid knowledge is probably down to what I've seen on those reality emergency programmes on television - not something I'm proud to admit.

Jaide's story is a good push in the right direction for me, at least, to think about completing some first-aid training.

I'm pretty sure she'll inspire some others to take that step.