I have just seen a header for an article on the side of the BBC news dealing with this useful dummy, familiar to all first-aiders and indispensible for practicing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and cardiac massage. In my time I was a member of a St John`s ambulance group, we had a dozen or so members and a decrepit retired ambulance and we used to provide first aid cover at fetes and a local beach. we also used to train on Friday nights before retiring to a local pub, where the incident which just made me smile took place.
The group leader was a lady of a `certain age` called Joy, I think she was an ex-nurse and was responsible for looking after the Resusci-Anne. This fairly life-like but rather small figure, dressed in a blue tracksuit, folded into a suitcase. When the lid was opened the dummy suddenly sat up which surprised a number of unsuspecting newcomers! Unfortunately, our training aid had developed a puncture in her rubber skin where her two legs met....
Joy was describing the steps she had taken to mend this and was speaking rather loudly as the pub was crowded and noisy. However, at a crucial point in her account one of those sudden silences fell, that the French describe as due to the passing of an angel. Joy was saying, in ladylike tones, `Then I got her down on the floor and smothered her crutch with glue...` The silence extended for several more seconds as everyone in the pub was absolutely fascinated at this revelation and the only sound to be heard was the flapping of many pairs of attentive ears. Joy went rather pink and continued much more quietly to the obvious disappointment of her new audience. I still smile today remembering that night !
Bye, got to feed the menagerie!
