Dramatic introduction for would-be nurse

Press, 22 January 1988, Page 4

Dramatic introduction for would-be nurse

PA Napier A Napier chemist shop assistant whb did a first aid course because she wanted to be a nurse, says she believes her training saved the life of a heart attack victim. Paula Gosling, aged 19, of Spackman’s Pharmacy, said she was told of the man’s collapse from a heart attack when a jeweller, Mr Bruce Pain, ran into the shop calling for help. The pair gave cardio

pulmonary resuscitation to the man who had stopped breathing and had only a faint pulse. “I started C.P.R. straight away, I didn’t have time to think about it. After a while he started to breath again, so I gave him mouth to mouth,” Miss Gosling said. She had to work fast, as her first aid training had taught her that after two to three minutes, the man’s brain cells would begin to die.

“I was worried, but had no time to think about that. He was on his way to death, but by the time the ambulance had him hooked up to the heart monitor, his beat was quite strong.” Miss Gosling says she is determined to be a nurse, and that she will apply as often as necessary until she gets accepted. She has completed an eight-week first aid course, and intends doing a patient care course next month.