PCSOs' street meeting drama

PCSOs' street meeting drama

26 August 2010

A street meeting turned into something rather more dramatic for two police community support officers when a girl began to choke in a nearby house.

PCSOs Alison Shadbolt and Hannah Parks were meeting local people in Lavant Road, Stone Cross, on Thursday, August 18, when 14-year-old Haydn Potter ran out to them and asked for their help. His sister, Nina, 13, was choking on a piece of sausage and Haydn had noticed the officers in the street.

Alison and Hannah radioed for an ambulance and were quickly joined by a first responder, Matt Briggs. Between them they were able to dislodge the sausage and Nina was taken to hospital where she was checked over and has since made a full recovery.

Nina's mum, Linda, said: "Nina suffers from cerebral palsy and Haydn's quick-thinking was so commendable. Nina thoroughly enjoyed her trip in the ambulance and we are so grateful to everyone who helped her and the excellent response from the police and ambulance services."

Sgt Howard Nevill from the Hailsham neighbourhood policing team said: "I am very proud of Hannah and Alison's response, which not only demonstrates how valuable they are in the community, but also how diverse their role is and just how flexible they have to be."

Matt Briggs is a community first responder with the South East Coast Ambulance Service and arrived on the scene in minutes. He successfully dislodged the blockage with blows to Nina's back and then carried out abdominal thrusts. He said: "In the year that I have been a responder this was the first choking incident that I've attended. I'm delighted that it resulted in such a positive outcome. It is always very distressing to see such a young patient so unwell and to be able to get such a great result is very rewarding."

Community responders are volunteers who are trained by the ambulance service to provide a community based response to certain medical emergencies in the vital minutes before an ambulance arrives. As responders either live or work within the communities they serve, they can often be at the patient's side within four minutes of the 999 call as was the case in this instance.

Job done, the PCSOs returned to their street meeting where the attendance had grown considerably!

Photo: Nina with (L-R) PCSO Hannah Parks, Linda Potter, Finlay Potter (brother), Shaun Potter (Dad), Haydn Potter, Matt Briggs, and PCSO Alison Shadbolt.