Ggh

Soham Detachment First Aid Demonstration

Our cadets work with the emergency services to demonstrate life-saving skills.

Soham Detachment First Aid Demonstration

1 October 2022

  • Cambridgeshire ACF

Cambridgeshire Army Cadets and adult volunteers continue to engage with their local communities, demonstrating our Values and Standards and highlighting the ACF's important work. This includes giving first aid demonstrations; displaying skills which enable ACF members to help save lives every year, all across the country.

On Saturday 24th September, Soham held its Annual Pumpkin Fair. This long-running event raises money for local charities and also brings together the local community for a fun day out. Attractions include vintage vehicles, bygones, charity stalls, arena displays by local groups, a funfair, BBQ, refreshments, raffle and prize giving ceremony.

Untitled 1hhgh

A cadet during the first aid demonstration.

The fair also includes a number of shows and demonstrations, and this year’s event featured Soham Detachment cadets giving a dramatic first aid demonstration. This involved a fictitious scenario, following the format of a couple of ‘casualties’ occurring within the arena and cadets then responding and conducting a primary survey following the DRABC (Danger, Response, Airways, Breathing, Circulation) sequence, and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Because one of the casualties was unconscious and had stopped breathing, they ‘phoned’ 999. Shortly afterwards 4 emergency services personnel ran into the arena. However, these nearest responders were not an ambulance crew, but instead were Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service firefighters responding to a ‘non-trauma medical emergency where an ambulance is more than 10 minutes away’. The cadets handed over the casualties to the firefighters who continued CPR on the unconscious patient. After a short time, the East Anglia Ambulance Service crew arrived, checked and evacuated the casualty.

308580248 10162522551302501 1932474633692365566 n

The ACF recruitment and RBL stand.

The cadets also ran a recruiting stand and spoke to many young people about the ACF. As well as reminding the Soham community of the important skills taught by the ACF, the cadets represented their detachment and county to the highest standards. Soham Detachment cadets not only demonstrated their First Aid skills but also had an opportunity to work with Soham Fire Station firefighters – and have a tour of the fire station – and an emergency ambulance. The cadets also really enjoyed the rest of the afternoon, particularly the ferret racing!

Soham Detachment Commander (DC) SMI Harris said: ‘The cadets really enjoyed the interaction with the fire service and conducting the demonstration. A very proud DC on how they conducted themselves, and their acting skills during the demonstration. The cadets enjoyed the afternoon and got to watch another demonstration of the fire service dealing with a road traffic collision and the removal of car parts to get to the occupants.’

Text by SI Doug Stuart with James Wood. Photos by Chris Scurrah.