When we think of first aid training, we normally think about first aid training for adults. This isn’t necessarily a bad assumption. However, it does show that we often don’t bother investing in teaching first aid skills to children, and this shouldn’t be the case. Investing in first aid training for the children at your school not only gives the students in your care vital skills but also encourages communication and leadership abilities.
First Aid Training: Giving (Literally) Life Saving Skills
First aid skills are essential at all stages of life. Think about the video that went viral in February of the nine-year-old girl who successfully called 999after her mother passed out in a moving car on the motorway. She managed to stay on the phone with emergency services for seven minutes while she explained what her mother’s condition was like (“alive but very poorly”). She successfully explained to the call operator where they were and she remained on the line until the police and ambulance services came to the scene.
As much as we’d like to, we’re not able to watch our children all the time. The older they get, the more they’re going to be going off on their own adventures. One of the best ways to calm your nerves about this is to ensure that they’ve got all of the skills necessary to be able to handle themselves in an accident. And I’m not talking about Liam-Neeson-in-Taken levels of “handling themselves” — just basic first aid!
Encouraging Communication and Building Leadership
Basic first aid training covers a range of fundamental but essential skills. This includes how to get ahold of emergency services, what to ask for, and how to describe someone’s condition. All of this can mean the difference between life and death. Running a first aid training for the children in your school means making sure they have a thorough understanding of how the different emergency services work and what to do in different kinds of accidents and emergencies.
As any paramedic will tell you, some of the most important first aid skills are also the simplest. For example, when someone has a bad fall, our first instinct is often to move them. But if they’ve fallen on their back, then moving them can be extremely dangerous. In fact, it could even result in further injury or death. First aid training covers how to respond to a range of different accidents and emergencies — such as burns, broken and fractured bones, and CPR.
Instilling first aid skills in children is essential for a number of reasons. It not only gives them invaluable life skills, but it helps to build confidence, communication skills, and the ability to work well in a team. First aid requires teamwork, leadership, and the patience to listen to those around you. Training helps build these skills, which are incredibly versatile and will continue to serve children well throughout their lives.
Want to invest in a first aid training course for children? Get in touch and we’ll sort you out!
