Basic first aid skills helped Forth Valley College Engineering lecturer Paul McHardy swing into action to save a young child’s life recently.
Paul had been on a family outing to Cairnie Fruit Farm in Cupar in Fife on Saturday 12 October when he spotted a 21 month-old girl choking on some food.
Armed with his basic training, learned when he was a site supervisor working with FES in 2011, he immediately took control of the situation. He positioned the toddler, named Freya, in the correct position and patted her back to dislodge a strawberry that had blocked her throat and airways.
Grateful mum Jody King has now enrolled on a first aid course to equip her with the essential skills employed by Paul to save her daughter’s life. But Paul revealed that it was not the first time he has used his knowledge to save someone from choking, as he has also helped to dislodge a garden pea pod swallowed by his daughter Sofia, when she was just three years-old!
Modest Paul from Kinross, who is currently on secondment as a Clerk of Works on behalf of FVC on the new Falkirk Campus, said: “I was having a great day out with the kids and my wife, when I noticed a commotion and a young girl choking and her mum in a bit of a panic. I calmly walked over and positioned the child in the right way and slapped her back and dislodged the strawberry which was causing the problem. The mum was so grateful. I am just happy I could do something to help and glad the wee girl is OK.”
The Dundee Courier originally ran the story and launched an appeal to find out the name of the lifesaver, who in the commotion hadn’t passed on his name to frantic mum Jody. But Paul’s identity has been passed on to them, so Jody can thank him once again and the Courier has since run a follow-up story in praise of Paul.
Anyone looking to find out more about the first aid courses currently available at Forth Valley College should call 01324 403000 or visit https://www.forthvalley.ac.uk/courses/first-aid