News

Barista praised for first aid on customer...

A barista at a Bury St Edmunds coffee shop sprung to the aid of a customer when he started choking – thanks to having attended a first aid course provided free to town centre businesses.

Charlotte Mothershaw, who has worked for Really Rather Good on Abbeygate Street for nearly a year, put her skills into action when one of the coffee shop’s regular customers started choking on a salad.

She’d attended a Red Cross first aid training course provided free to members of the Business Improvement District (BID) organisation Ourburystedmunds.

Charlotte said: “He started choking and going red in the face and nobody seemed to know what to do. Everything I’d learned on the course came back to me instantly and I started banging him on the back to free the food he was choking on. Afterwards I helped to reassure him and gave him a glass of water until he felt calm enough to go home.

“It’s important not to panic in these situations but I think some of the other customers were quite shocked and didn’t know how to react.”

One of the owners of Really Rather Good, Annette Stanford added: “First aid training is essential, especially in the food trade where a kitchen has a number of potential hazards. I’m very proud of the way Charlotte reacted. She did exactly the right thing and is a credit to the business.”

Chief Executive of Ourburystedmunds Mark Cordell said: “We aim to give BID businesses value for money for their membership and offer a number of free training courses throughout the year. The Red Cross teach some lifesaving skills and while we hope those who attend never have to use them, it is reassuring to know that Charlotte had those skills when they were needed. This course is one of our most popular and I’d urge any member business that wants to send a staff member on it to get in touch with me.”

Further first aid courses are planned for later this year.