Kisses at Sunset

‘What the—?’ Jack looked round and gasped as he saw a teenage boy running across the field, flames licking around his body. ‘Oh, my God—’

For a split second Ally froze in horror, as did the rest of the spectators, and then she was sprinting towards him.

‘Lie down! Stop running,’ she yelled, knowing that in his panic he was fanning the flames. He obviously couldn’t hear her, and she ran as fast as she could until the breath tore in her throat and pain stabbed her chest. As she drew closer she ripped off her coat, ready to fling it on him, but Sean was there before her.

With a neat rugby tackle he floored the panicking youngster and wrapped him in his jacket, using his hands to beat out the rest of the flames. The boy was still screaming, but the sound was thinner and his eyes were glassy as he stared up at them, his face scorched and blackened.

‘Call an ambulance!’ Ally snapped at the gathering crowd, and she looked frantically at Sean. ‘His clothes are still smouldering. We need to get them off.’

Sean was already removing the charred remains of the boys jacket, and started to gently remove his shirt.

‘Get some cold water quickly.’ He glanced up at a hovering Red Cross volunteer,

who rose to the challenge and sprinted in the direction of the refreshment tent.

‘And clingfilm,’ Ally called after her, catching Sean’s brief nod of approval as together they removed the last piece of charred clothing.

‘Good thinking,’ he murmured, glancing into the crowd that had gathered. ‘We need some gear here. Jack?’

‘I’m here.’ Jack hurried forward, his face drawn and anxious. ‘What do you need?’

‘Morphine, oxygen and equipment to intubate,’ Ally listed quickly, reaching out to grab the stethoscope Will was proffering. ‘Thanks!’

‘We need to estimate the surface area and get some fluid into him.’ Sean reached out to take the cold water and gently cooled the remaining pieces of charred clothing which could not be removed.

Ally quickly examined the boy, using the rule of nines to calculate how much of the skin was affected. ‘Well, it’s most of the front, part of the left arm, part of the left leg and part of the back—probably about 28 per cent. Do you agree?’

Sean examined the boy briefly and nodded. ‘Looks about right. Mostly full thickness. Let’s give him something for the pain quickly.’

Jack handed Ally a box of equipment and she delved into it quickly, removing a large-bore cannula which she deftly inserted into a vein while Sean sorted out the pain relief.

Ally heard the shriek of the ambulance siren and exchanged a look with Sean. ‘Thank goodness.’

He nodded. ‘Yes. This chap needs hospital help fast. How are his lungs?’

Ally used Will’s stethoscope, listening carefully for signs that the smoke or flames had affected his lungs. ‘They’re clear, actually.’

Sean raked a hand through his hair and let out a breath. ‘Thank goodness. OK, let’s wrap up these burns and get some fluid into him.’

‘How much do you reckon he weighs?’ Ally frowned down at the boy, measuring with her eyes. ‘Isn’t there anyone with him?’

‘Doesn’t seem to be. The lads are still asking around.’ Jack was by her side, waiting for more instructions. ‘What do you need?’

‘A pen and paper to calculate the fluid replacement…’ Sean stood up and rubbed his dark jaw. ‘Unless you’ve got a calculator?’

‘We have.’ Daniel, the paramedic, sprinted back to the ambulance and returned seconds later. ‘It’s solar powered so you’ll have to stick it under the torch.’

‘Thanks.’ Sean tapped some figures into the calculator, narrowing his eyes at Ally. ‘What do you reckon? Twenty-eight per cent multiplied by his body weight…’

‘He must be about 58 kilos,’ Ally guessed, and Sean nodded.

‘Sounds about right. OK…’ He tapped again and calculated the volume of fluid. ‘Right—he needs that within four hours so I’ll scribble it all down for the hospital.’

Ally jabbed a giving set into the first bag of fluid and attached it to the line in the boy’s arm. Then between them they gently wrapped his body in clingfilm to prevent fluid loss and protect the burns, before covering him up to keep him warm.

‘Is one of you coming with us?’ Daniel pulled the stretcher next to the boy and Sean glanced at Ally with a wry grin.

‘My turn, I think. You stay with your daughter.’