Kids teach lifesaving skills
Children in Northumbria are being
encouraged to teach life saving first aid skills in the home using
a revolutionary new piece of equipment distributed
by St John Ambulance.
The mini CPR skills kits are being handed out to youngsters who
have already received training from St John Ambulance in
cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the emergency medical procedure for
victims of cardiac arrest.
St John Ambulance Northumbria has a wide reaching youth and
schools’ programme and hundreds of children each year take part in
first aid courses and training schemes within their schools, where
they learn how to prevent accidents, be aware of dangers and carry
out first aid.
Now it’s hoped that by taking home the kits, including a
disposable mini manikin and information dvd, they’ll be able to
pass on their new-found knowledge to other members of their
families, and spread their first aid skills wide into their
communities.
Peter Lane, the Schools Liaison Officer for St John Ambulance
Northumbria, explained: 'These new kits have been provided as part
of St John Ambulance’s national commitment to ensuring that as many
people as possible can use first aid.
This is the perfect opportunity for families to share a learning experience whilst increasing their awareness in essential first aid skills.
Peter Lane
Northumbria Schools Liaison Officer
'When someone is hurt, the first few minutes are vital and can
be the difference between life and death for the casualty. If the
person who is first on the scene, whether they be an adult or a
child, can carry out first aid and summon help, the chance of
recovery is massively increased.'
Peter works with children across Northumbria through the St
John Ambulance Young first aider course
and the three-part IMPS training scheme (Injury Minimisation
Programme for Schools.)
The YFA course
teaches children a range of skills, from how to resuscitate a
casualty to how to deal with poisons, asthma attacks, stings,
burns, bites, broken bones, choking, chest pains, fainting,
electric shocks and foreign objects. The IMPS scheme is a
partnership run by Sunderland Primary Care
Trust, St John Ambulance and the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue
Service and looks at accident prevention and personal safety,
as well as showing first hand how the emergency services respond if
someone is hurt.
Peter Continued: 'We come into contact with
hundreds of fantastic children who are like sponges – they soak up
the first aid training and want to share everything they have
learned. This is the perfect opportunity for families to share
a learning experience whilst increasing their awareness in
essential first aid skills.'