Schools awarded first aid comp winners by musical actress

Abbey School from Devon and Grainville School from Jersey were presented with the title of junior and senior National Schools' First Aid champions by WICKED actress Nikki Davis-Jones, in the finals of the St John Ambulance competition.

Tough competition

The battle between school first aid teams was held at the Natural History Museum in London on 29 June. Eleven junior and ten senior teams competed in each category to claim victory but Abbey School and Grainville School teams outshone the other pupils with their knowledge and teamwork.

The five-strong teams, who learnt first aid at school through St John Ambulance resources, had already beaten local rivals in a regional round by showing their ability to remain confident when applying first aid and communicating effectively within a team. They challenged other junior and senior schools by putting to use each team members' initiative and taking the lead in scenarios such as how to handle a dog bite, dislocations and an amputation.

Teamwork

The pupils from Abbey School said: 'It was such a nerve wracking competition but we had an amazing time. We're so excited to have won. Everyone should learn first aid; it's a skill for life. Too many lives are lost because people don't know what they can do to help.'

Sylvia Greinig, Principal, Abbey School said: 'I'm extremely proud of our pupils today and delighted that the school has been able to facilitate the teaching of such a vital life skill. Unfortunately the teacher who should be here today, Fleur Greinig, was unable to make it but we thank her hugely for her hard work and support.'

Teaching the difference

Prizes were given by Nikki Davis-Jones who plays Elphaba in the hit west-end musical WICKED. The show is committed to educating pupils in first aid and has launched a new resource for teachers - teachthedifference..org.uk with St John Ambulance. Davis-Jones presented Abbey School and Grainville School with their awards of £1750 prize money to be spent on equipment for their school and team winners also received individual prizes.

Davis-Jones said: 'First aid is one of those skills that you never know when you're going to need. In reality, accidents and injuries can't be treated with a bit of magic so it's important to be armed with knowledge that can be the difference between a life lost and a life saved. It was an eye-opener to see how capable and confident these young individuals were and their ability to stay calm and under control in such dramatic scenarios.'

All participants learnt their first aid skills with St John Ambulance, using resources such as teachthedifference.org.uk, which gives teachers everything they need to teach basic first aid skills so they can be the difference between a life lost and a life saved.