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I was a Red Cross volunteer and find the slagging a bit harsh too, and the above comment sums it up. We have been on the park with a couple of guys down only to find one tying a bootlace. You have to wait until you are called on,normally by team physio. The handling Dean got was correct,he was not moved until his leg was immobilised and he was given entonox for pain relief,not just oxygen as some people reported. So give the Red Cross guys a break, its not just football matches they attend,probably at a frozen motocross meet the following day. So it is not done for monetary reward either. Would the ones pointing fingers do any better.

Fans have an absolute right to comment. I absolutely understand the natural tendency to defend volunteer first aiders, but I would have to agree with those who thought the response slow. There was a reason for it - four of the responders who were in attendance were clearly far too overweight and overburdened by their needless heavy waterproofs to get there any quicker to what I can assure you is an exquisitely painful injury that requires rapid intervention. That might sound harsh but there's no judgement attached to it, just an objective observation. In a wider context, DD probably has this one right there should be a mechanism to get help on quickly when warranted and to be fair no one would complain if it was done now. Limiting it to "head injuries and heart attacks" is however (and I quote) a bit "harsh and unreasonable" though.

I don't think many of us on here (me included) would give up a Saturday afternoon to volunteer as a First Aider at any level of football. Professional help is one thing, paying for it with crowds of 3500 another. Thankfully these incidents are few and far between at football games, but I expect volunteer numbers and response time will get better as the 'can do betters' go out and show how it should be done.

I have to say that being critical of the first aiders on the basis of their weight is bordering on being offensive. The Red Cross clearly thought they were fit enough and competent enough to be there.

I think in the case of Lizis post above fans do have the right to comment. As she says the response of the first aiders that day at Aberdeen was woeful. Everyone in our crowd was screaming at them to hurry up and they continued to saunter up the stand steps slowly. I'm sorry the response that day was undefendable imho. I'm surprised that clubs don't have to employ qualified paramedics on matchdays tbh. There was an emergency ambulance at the North stand as on all big match days but guess that's for spectators?