The first week back at work after a break is always busy, but this one was especially so, with Greater Brisbane going into another COVID lockdown.
On Wednesday I attended the classroom component of a First Aid course. I was surprised it was still going ahead, but it made sense when I got there – everyone worked in health.
The instructor was excellent, a retired Scottish paramedic with a no-nonsense approach. I had to listen carefully through his accent and mask, but he made the important things memorable. One point really hit home: if we ever had to perform CPR, chances were it would be on someone we loved, and we might be their only chance of survival.
We covered the usual DRSABCD, CPR, choking, recovery position and broken bones, with plenty of practical advice.
Then came the irony.
Walking back to my car after the class, I looked away from the footpath to check for traffic just as it dipped. I rolled my ankle and fell heavily.
After a few minutes, some tears – it really hurt – I drove myself back to work and applied first aid:
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation
My boss later remarked on my dedication to putting first aid theory into practice.
She had a point.