A HEART-STOPPING STORY

On 14th May 2003, John Dooley was taking his regular swim at the Windsor Leisure Centre and had been in the water for around 30 minutes when the life-guard on duty, Wayne Carpenter, realised that he was in trouble. He immediately activated the air horn alarm and dived in to take John into the shallow end. The Duty Manager, Wayne Smith, who was in his office when he heard the alarm, dropped everything to go immediately to the pool, where he waded in, still in his ordinary work clothes, to help Wayne Carpenter to get John on to the side of the pool. They then went through the basic first aid checks and, realising that John was extremely pale and had no pulse, Wayne Smith immediately started mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. They were quickly joined by another member of the Leisure Centre staff, Mike Oakley, who had collected oxygen and a defibrillator. Mike immediately attached the pads to John's chest and, as there had been no recovery of pulse, initiated the shock. This started the heart. Around this time, the ambulance arrived and so the paramedics took over, taking John to Wexham Park Hospital Accident and Emergency, where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

It is a tribute to the seriousness with which the Leisure Centre treat their responsibility for the 800,000 people who pass through the Centre every year that, even though there had been no need for action of this type over the previous four years, their regular emergency procedures swung smoothly into action to save John's life. All managers, supervisors and gym staff are trained in first aid and this is kept up-to-date with a training session every two weeks.

After two days, John was transferred to a ward, where he remained for two weeks, before being transferred to the Royal Brompton Hospital for an angiogram, following which he was told that he needed a coronary artery by-pass. He returned to the Brompton in August, received the by-pass by key-hole surgery, and then angioplasty three days later. After a week he was discharged and returned home to the care of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurses and, after completion of the Phase 3 exercise programme, is now to be found regularly on a Tuesday afternoon at 5.00pm at Lesley Richards' exercise programme at Carnation Hall, as well as resuming his regular swim in the pool at Windsor Leisure Centre.

The Royal Berkshire Ambulance Trust is very keen to ensure that defibrillators are found within the community at any place where there is likely to be a high density of people; they are therefore to be found at large railway stations, shopping malls and town High Streets, as well as in Sports Centres. The Trust is also placing them in residential areas where individuals are willing to hold them and be trained in their use. Members of THROB may well be aware that our funds have purchased a defibrillator which is carried by the Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurses at the Phase 3 exercise classes.

John Dooley's story is a suberb example of the life-saving possibilities of the wider availability of defibrillators in the hands of trained personnel.

MY FIRST TRIATHLON

Those of you that read my report on Cardiac Rehabilitation in Australia will know that I have a married daughter in Sydney. I also have a married son in Seattle, USA. Why the kids have gone overseas is something that still puzzles the wife (Jenny) and I. Perhaps they realised that they had all the money. Anyway, I think my son was quite shocked at the news of my heart bypass in Jan 2000. It made him (and me!) realise that his old man is actually mortal. Since then he has enthusiastically urged me to greater efforts on the exercise front. Even so I got a bit of a surprise when he informed me that a "sprint triathlon" coincided with a visit Jenny and I were making to Seattle and that we were both (my son and I that is, not the wife and I!) entered for the event. I had grave (appropriate word) doubts. I didn't really know what a triathlon consisted of; I was convinced the level of fitness required was way beyond reasonable capabilities; and there was no way a sixty one year old could take part in such an event. "Have a look at the website", (www.seafair.com) said my son,"and Ill call you in a day or two, it's much gentler on the joints than jogging."

The web site told me that a sprint triathlon was half the distance of an Olympic triathlon. This didn't sound like a good start. What was worse was the order of the events. I naively assumed that the swim would come last. I thought that all the sweat would be washed away by the refreshing caress of the waters of Lake Washington. Oh no. The 750 metre swim comes first, followed by the 20 kilometre (12 miles) bike ride, with a wet arse, then the 5kilometer (3miles) run. The web site also told me that 1300 people took part, that 150 were 55years or older and also told me the times of the fastest and slowest 60-year-old.

My first step was to see how achievable these times were individually. I would worry about joining them up later. So off I went to Bracknell pool to swim 30 lengths. I had never swum such a distance in my life so it was done in gentle breaststroke. I was surprised to do it in 22 minutes well within my "qualifying" time. (Note Qualifying time means not to look a complete idiot on the day). The next was a bike ride. Oiling and pumping, the mud encrusted, soft tired mountain bike was exhausting but I managed the 12 miles in 51 mins, the time of the slowest competitor. The run I won't go into details, but have you tried to run 3 miles lately? Any way I was bitten. My son sent me a training programme and I gently trained twice a week for five months.

We were delighted with our fist week in Seattle. I thoroughly recommend that area of the States for a holiday. The scenery is magnificent. If you go, Vancouver Island (two-hour drive from Seattle via car ferry) is a must; as is the Cascade Loop. This is a three-day tour through the Cascade Mountains, only passable in summer. But hanging over my sightseeing enjoyment was the impending athletic effort. But I need not have worried. A lovely clear morning greeted our gentle bike ride to the start. The age groups, differentiated by their coloured swim caps, were marshalled at 15-minute start intervals. Us oldies went last and had bright orange caps. Some wag suggested our cap colour should be silver. The well-organised loud speaker gently enticed us up to our waist in the water and then the horn went and we were off. The more prudent (i.e. scared) hung back, avoiding the enthusiastic thrashings of the keen. Us more genteel types elegantly lowering ourselves into the green embrace of the waters. It was a pleasant swim around a triangular course defined by huge buoys. For some reason the Americans pronounce this word "booees". There were hundreds of volunteers and every twenty yards was a safety boat, defining the limits of the course. You are allowed to hang onto the safety boat to rest if you want, without penalty. My gentle breaststroke overtook some of the over enthusiastic hangers on. So I wasn't out of the water last out of 1300 but almost.

However undaunted one struggled on sea legs and damp crutch to mount the hired bicycle. You may remember I did my training in a mountain bike. In Seattle, city of the fit and firm, such a vehicle is an anathema and my hired steed was a road bike festooned with the transfers of one, Greg LeMond of Tour de France fame. With such a vehicle between ones legs, one flew along at breath taking speed. Well it took my breath any way. The damp forgotten one rejoiced in the freedom of the road passing all before you. Slight exaggeration, I overtook five and three of them had a puncture. On the final stretch of the bike ride I overtook three ladies, who were riding abreast, and were discussing their daughters pregnancies. This is America remember. The dismount was fine, removing the mandatory crash hat was fine, but after 12 miles of biking the legs could not remember what to do to run. No amount of signals from the brain got to the nether regions. The three ladies re overtook me still gabbling away. This time the topic of conversation was the American equivalent of Kilroy. Eventually the legs realised that only one could go forward at a time and "we" set off in the direction of the chattering ladies. Navigation at this time was by the only sense left functioning correctly i.e. sound. When I say "we" I mean a set consisting of my body, brain, left leg and right leg. Four separate and uncoordinated items with no controlling authority.

Staggering manfully into the three mile run, one rejoiced at the beautiful surroundings. If you believe that you'll believe anything. The route was around Seward Park; a waterside run that juts out into Lake Washington. It is truly beautiful but you only realise that later. The voluntary marshals enthusiastically urged you on. However by this time they were twelve-year old boy scouts and they really started to pi…., oops sorry I mean irritate a little. Grimacingly smiling at these little helpers one started to reel in the chattering ladies still operating three abreast. I hung in behind their slipstream, getting an aerodynamic tow and bracing myself for the overtaking manoeuvre. This time the conversation was the gorgeous young Kennedy and would he like Crème Broulais. This is America remember. As I manfully overtook them to my astonishment the finishing line appeared. My son and his friends, who had finished before I even got out of the water, cheered me home.

The timing chip around my ankle told me I had done the swim in 23 mins, the bike in 43 mins and the run in 31mins. My overall time was 1,43,13. Placing me 5^th of the over 60,s males. Enough to make you want to go back next year. Anyone want to join me?

Paul Moore

THE FLYING SCOTSMAN

There was much press coverage over recent times when the owners of this magnificent railway engine were forced to consider its sale as the ever spiralling costs of maintenance became too much of a burden. The story had a happy ending as financial input from lottery funds and an extremely substantial donation from Sir Richard Branson (Virgin Trains), together with public donations of a more modest nature, secured ownership for the National Railway Museum in York.

Much of the press asserted it was the first railway engine (steam) to achieve 100mph in this country. Unfortunately, that is entirely untrue, so you cannot believe everything you read in the papers!

In 1904 the GWR Swindon-built (the 2000th locomotive to be constructed at Swindon) 4-4-0 "City of Truro" was the first engine in this country to be recorded as having attained a speed of over 100mph.

At the time of the impending sale of the Flying Scotsman there was no real correcting mention of the major inaccuracy attributed to its past. The good news is that THROB readers now know otherwise, the not so good news is that Type A behaviour can still creep in!

Derek Drew

ARE YOU WASTING MEDICINES?

Government figures published recently reported that 523 tonnes of medicines were returned to pharmacies during the year 2002-03. It is thought that this is only the tip of the iceberg as some Primary Care Trusts and local Health Boards did not submit figures and also significant amounts of medicines are disposed of individually. Most members of THROB will be on a regular prescription for several medicines and the least we can do is to ensure that we do not keep unnecessary stocks in our bathroom cupboards. The NHS is short of money and we can all do our bit to reduce this totally unnecessary waste and cost.

Roger Mills (Pharacist of this Parish!)

MEDICATION DETAILS

The local Lions Club, supported by various local companies, is sponsoring a scheme to encourage people to keep their basic personal and medical details in a common place where they can easily be found in an emergency. The information is kept in a small bottle which is put in the fridge door with a label fixed to

the front and back doors of the house, so that any emergency service will know where to look. The information which is expected to be included is:

Your name

Doctor's name, surgery address and phone number

Names and telephone numbers of two people who can be contacted in any emergency

List of regular medication taken (your repeat prescription list will do fine.)

Any other details of relevance, such as pets and special problems

The bottle is supplied free and local Health Centres, Surgeries and Pharmacies should havesupplies. If you cannot get a bottle, then call the local Lions Club on 01753 543903.

In addition to this, all THROB members ought to carry in their purse or wallet a note of the regular medications which they are taking. In any emergency, this is the first place to look to establish your identity and it will help to have these details.

MUSCLES

Where is my deltoid muscle?

The deltoid is a thick triangular muscle that covers the shoulder joint. It originates from the collar bone and part of the spine of the shoulder blade. The deltoid inserts into the arm bone.

What is the action of my deltoid muscle?

The deltoid is responsible for raising the arm away from the side of the body and raising the arm straight in front of the body.

How can I strengthen my deltoid muscle?

One of the best exercises to strengthen your deltoid muscles is the lateral raise. The lateral raise is a common exercise that is found in most exercise classes.

Beginning position

Grasp a pair of light dumbbells or baked bean cans. Stand erect with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent. Rest the dumbbells or cans at the side of the body with the arms out straight and palms of the hands facing towards the body.

Upward Movement Phase

Raise the arms away from the side of body until they reach the level of the shoulders or slightly below. Keep knees and elbows slightly bent and the back straight. Do not jerk the body or swing the dumbbells or cans upward.

Downward Movement Phase

Allow the dumbbells or cans to slowly lower back to the beginning position. Keep the back and knees in the same position. Repeat the exercise 10-15 times using slow controlled movements. This exercise can be performed in a seated position as well, but please remember to keep the back straight, the chest lifted, eyes looking straight a head and the knees placed hip width apart with both feet flat on the floor.

(Please note, before performing any exercise at home it is recommended that you seek the advice of an exercise professional.)