On Sunday 24th March, 60-year-old Elaine Cooper from Treherbert saved her husband’s life using CPR, just two days after completing a first aid course with St John Ambulance Cymru.
Elaine was on her way home from work when she received a call that her 64-year-old husband Alun was feeling extremely unwell. Thankfully, she had just finished her official First Aid at Work training, so had the skills and knowledge required to save her loved one’s life.
Elaine’s daughter who lives nearby quickly rushed to their family home and as Elaine got to the scene, Alun’s condition had worsened considerably. He stopped breathing and Elaine promptly called 999.
Elaine had completed her three-day First Aid at Work course with St John Ambulance Cymru Trainer Lisa at the charity’s headquarters in Cardiff just two days prior, so knew how to carry out the primary survey, monitor Alun’s breathing and deliver CPR.
Thankfully, after a few rounds of chest compressions and rescue breaths, Alun began breathing again. He remained stable until paramedics arrived and was taken to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, where he stayed for three days. The family later learned his cardiac arrest had been triggered by an epileptic seizure.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the first aid skills I learnt from Lisa” Elaine said, “I was sceptical about doing the fist aid course and I was thinking about missing it, but I’m so thankful I did attend now.”
“The whole experience was so scary, I never thought I’d have to do CPR on anyone, let alone a member of my family.”
The couple, who have been married for almost 40 years, are still recovering both mentally and physically from the incident. Alun is on new medication and is attending regular medical check-ups, but he is on the mend. The couple are so thankful for those lifesaving skills Elaine learnt, as her prompt action saved his life that day.
Kate Evans, Head of Workplace Training at St John Ambulance Cymru commented:
“Elaine’s story is a perfect example of why first aid is so important, it really does save lives.
“We are passionate about empowering people with first aid skills, so they can act swiftly in times of crisis and more lives can be saved.
“We’d like to wish Alun all the best with his recovery and commend Elaine for the way she put her newly acquired skills into practice.”
Elaine was so thankful she had gained new first aid skills with St John Ambulance Cymru, as they were a lifeline in that moment.
If you’d like to learn lifesaving first aid skills with St John Ambulance Cymru, then register for one of the charity’s official Workplace Training Courses at www.sjacymru.org.uk/en/page/training.
St John Ambulance Cymru also offer free first aid demonstrations in schools and community groups across Wales. If you’re interested in booking one of these sessions, then visit www.sjacymru.org.uk/en/courses/list/GPC to find out more today.
Elaine photographed with her husband, Alun.
Gwraig o Dreherbert yn achub bywyd ei gŵr ychydig ddyddiau ar ôl cwblhau cwrs cymorth cyntaf St John Ambulance Cymru
Ar ddydd Sul 24ain Mawrth, achubodd Elaine Cooper, 60 oed o Dreherbert, fywyd ei gŵr gan ddefnyddio CPR, ddeuddydd yn unig ar ôl cwblhau cwrs cymorth cyntaf gydag St John Ambulance Cymru.
Roedd Elaine ar ei ffordd adref o'r gwaith pan dderbyniodd alwad yn dweud bod ei gŵr 64 oed, Alun, yn teimlo'n sâl iawn. Diolch byth, roedd Elaine newydd orffen ei hyfforddiant Cymorth Cyntaf yn y Gwaith swyddogol, felly roedd ganddi’r sgiliau a’r wybodaeth angenrheidiol i achub bywyd ei hanwylyd.
Rhuthrodd merch Elaine, sy’n byw gerllaw, i’w chartref teuluol yn gyflym ac wrth i Elaine gyrraedd roedd cyflwr Alun wedi gwaethygu’n sylweddol. Ffoniodd Elaine 999 yn syth ar ôl iddo stopio anadlu.
Roedd Elaine wedi cwblhau ei chwrs tridiau Cymorth Cyntaf yn y Gweithle gyda Lisa, Hyfforddwraig St John Ambulance Cymru, ym mhencadlys yr elusen yng Nghaerdydd dim ond dau ddiwrnod ynghynt, felly roedd hi’n gwybod sut i gynnal yr arolwg cychwynnol, monitro anadlu Alun a darparu CPR.
Diolch byth, ar ôl ambell rownd o gywasgiadau ar ei frest ac anadliadau achub, dechreuodd Alun anadlu eto. Arhosodd yn sefydlog nes i barafeddygon gyrraedd ac aethpwyd ag ef i Ysbyty Brenhinol Morgannwg, lle bu’n aros am dridiau. Yn ddiweddarach, clywodd y teulu fod ei ataliad ar y galon wedi'i achosi gan drawiad epileptig.
“Ni fyddwn wedi gallu ei wneud heb y sgiliau cymorth cyntaf a ddysgais gan Lisa,” dywedodd Elaine.
“Roeddwn i’n amheus ynglŷn â gwneud y cwrs cymorth cyntaf ac roeddwn i’n ystyried peidio â mynd, ond rydw i mor ddiolchgar fy mod wedi mynychu.”
“Roedd yr holl brofiad mor frawychus, wnes i erioed feddwl y byddai’n rhaid i mi wneud CPR ar unrhyw un, heb sôn am aelod o fy nheulu.”
Mae'r cwpl, sydd wedi bod yn briod ers bron i 40 mlynedd, yn dal i wella'n feddyliol ac yn gorfforol o'r digwyddiad. Mae Alun ar feddyginiaeth newydd ac yn mynychu archwiliadau meddygol rheolaidd, ond mae ar y ffordd i wella. Mae'r cwpl mor ddiolchgar am y sgiliau achub bywyd a ddysgodd Elaine, wrth i'w gweithred gyflym achub ei fywyd y diwrnod hwnnw.
Dywedodd Kate Evans, Pennaeth Hyfforddiant Gweithle St John Ambulance Cymru:
“Mae stori Elaine yn enghraifft berffaith o pam mae cymorth cyntaf mor bwysig, mae wir yn achub bywydau.
“Rydym yn angerddol dros rymuso pobl gyda'r sgiliau cymorth cyntaf, fel y gallant weithredu'n gyflym mewn argyfwng ac achub mwy o fywydau.
“Hoffem ddymuno’r gorau i Alun gyda’i adferiad a chanmol Elaine am y ffordd y rhoddodd ei sgiliau newydd ar waith.”
Roedd Elaine mor ddiolchgar ei bod wedi ennill sgiliau cymorth cyntaf newydd gydag St John Ambulance Cymru, gan eu bod yn hollbwysig yn y foment honno. Os hoffech ddysgu sgiliau cymorth cyntaf achub bywyd gydag St John Ambulance Cymru, cofrestrwch ar gyfer un o Gyrsiau Hyfforddi Gweithle swyddogol yr elusen yma: www.sjacymru.org.uk/en/page/training.
Mae St John Ambulance Cymru hefyd yn cynnig arddangosiadau cymorth cyntaf am ddim mewn ysgolion a grwpiau cymunedol ledled Cymru. Os oes gennych ddiddordeb mewn archebu un o’r sesiynau hyn, yna ewch i www.sjacymru.org.uk/en/courses/list/GPC i gael gwybod mwy.
