Guernsey school children will continue to learn life-saving first aid skills thanks to St John and a new grant from the John Ramplin Charitable Trust.
The First Aid in Schools programme teaches students in Year 3 to 5 basic first aid, including treating cuts and bruises, what to do if someone is unconscious or unresponsive and how to call an ambulance.
The new funding agreement will allow the programme will continue for another two years. Since the programme was introduced thousands of primary school children have taken part in the course, which over the years has been supported by Specsavers and the Youth Commission.
Head of St John Training, Steve Ford said:
“We are extremely grateful that the John Ramplin Charitable Trust has been able to support our First Aid in School programme and we’re delighted that more children will now have the opportunity to learn vital skills. Even basic first aid skills can really make a difference. We know that there have been a number of cases where children have been able to use their first aid skills to help family members with either basic first aid or life-saving actions.”
Deputy Matt Fallaize President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, said:
“Once again, I would like to thank St John and its trainers for the fantastic work that they do within our schools. Their ongoing support and enthusiasm encourages the Bailiwick’s young people to learn more about First Aid and the impact it can have within the community. Our thanks also goes to the John Ramplin Charitable Trust for their generous support which will enable the programme to continue. The Committee strongly believes that the skills learned through the programme can be lifesaving.”
St John Training has recently appointed some new trainers to teach on the range of first aid courses offered locally, including First Aid in Schools, First Aid at Work, Paediatric First Aid, Essential First Aid for All Ages and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training. St John Training also provides Moving and Handling courses and teaches secondary school children first aid skills as part of the annual “Safety Calling” challenge. Last year St John worked in partnership with the Guernsey Cardiac Action Group to teach CPR to community groups as part of the Restart at Heart week.
Earlier this year it was announced that from 2020 CPR and basic first aid will be added to the school curriculum in England, meaning all students will be taught how to administer CPR, use an Automated External Defibrillator and treat common injuries. In some countries that already teach CPR in schools, cardiac arrest survival rates are more than double those of the UK.