Phoney first aider

People sometimes assume that because I’m a midwife, I’m automatically trained in first aid and call on me in situations where first aid is needed. Whilst I have to update yearly on adult and neonatal resuscitation (along with other obstetric emergency scenarios), I’m not a first-aider – in fact, it’s been about five years since I last attended a first aid course. If someone is giving birth in the middle of Tesco then I can help; if an elderly lady is having a funny turn then I can talk to her and call an ambulance, but otherwise am not much use.