THREE Melton first-aid students never expected they would have to save a life, but they were put to the test when a man collapsed in front of them last week.
The trio has been hailed as heroes by their peers after putting their skills to good use at Southern Cross station.
Chrishelle Van De Elzen, Callum Hazell and Daniel Harvey helped a 27-year-old man after realising he had collapsed.
All three students study at SEDA, a hands-on provider that equips young people with vocational education qualifications, specifically in sport.
The students were taught first-aid last year.
Mr Hazell, 18, said he never expected to have to use his first-aid skills.
“It was quite eye-opening and kind of scary,” he said.
“We had an audience watching, which was confronting.”
Mr Hazell said the group was waiting for a train at the station when they saw a man who was having trouble breathing.
They checked his vital signs and even made notes that could be handed over to paramedics.
“He was getting worse, he was getting cold and getting stabbing pains,’’ Mr Hazell said.
‘‘We went and got some first-aid stuff, a blanket, and then did a secondary assessment.
“Then the man went unconscious, so we got him into the recovery position to see if we could get him breathing. He came to, so we kept him warm and continued to check his vital signs and then the ambulance arrived.”
SEDA program developer and first-aid co-ordinator Dan Norton said it was good to see the students take the initiative.
He said first-aid training at SEDA was more scenario-based so students would have a better chance of success.
“In some first-aid courses [students] listen to people who are very experienced in the industry,” he said. “They learn concepts and knowledge and a small component of the training is scenario-based. We put them in the situation, where they have to respond in a practical manner. Our students learn in a number of different scenarios.”
