Welsh rugby star Nick Tompkins might not be here today if it weren't for Dr Hilary Jones' vital tips on spotting meningitis, it has been revealed. When he was six years old, the centre fell seriously ill and his mum remembered an awareness campaign the television doctor fronted in the 1990s.
To mark Dr Hilary's 70th birthday, Nick was in the studio as his mum Debbie told Good Morning Britain viewers how her son's life was saved by the 'Tumbler Test'.
Mum Debbie explained that she had picked him up from school and took him to the doctors when she realised he was not well. There was only one spot and the GP said that it was probably chicken pox, but Debbie was not convinced and did the tumbler test when she got him home.
She told GMB: "I just kept doing the tumbler test and in the end we got him to hospital and they really fought for him. His limbs had gone ice cold. He was very near to not being here with us.
"I had seen a clip with Dr Hilary in 1996 and this was in 2002 but I had seen lots of clips over the years and Dr Hilary led the campaign."
Explaining how serious ill her son had become, she told viewers: "They were just about to airlift him to Great Ormond Street when he came round. It took them four hours of hard work and they managed to rescue and once he regained consciousness he came on in leaps and bounds."
Nick said: "I didn't appreciate it until later in life when my mum told me. I remember feeling really ill. My dad told my mum to just give be Calpol and go to bed. If my mum hadn't remembered Dr Hilary's tips anything could have happened."
Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. It can affect anyone, but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults.
It can be very serious if not treated quickly and can cause life-threatening blood poisoning and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.
Meningitis Now says that performing the tumbler test is "very straight forward". The instructions they give are:
- Press the side of a clear glass firmly against the skin
- Spots/rash may fade at first
- Keep checking
- Fever with spots/rash that do not fade under pressure is a medical emergency
- Do not wait for a rash. If someone is ill and getting worse, get medical help immediately
The website add: "On dark skin, the spots/rash can be more difficult to see, check lighter areas such as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, inside the eyelids and the roof of the mouth."
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