A WORCESTER school has become the first in the city to have all its Year Six pupils taught lifesaving skills.
In a hands-on session run by West Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic Ali Vinson, the group of 90 students at Pitmaston Primary School in St Johns were taught how to do CPR and use a defibrillator in an emergency situation.
Rewarding the youngsters with a life savers certificate afterwards, Ali discussed calling 999 and 112 as well as teaching the ‘DRSABCD approach’, which stands for danger, response, send for help, check airways, breathing, start CPR and defibrillation.
She said: “I talked to the class about the background history surrounding CPR and then did a demonstration. I showed the children how to attach and use the automated external defibrillator.
“I then got all the students to have a go so I could see they have taken it all on board. To finish, they all got a ‘Lloyd the Turtle’ life savers certificate.”
So inspired by the lesson, two students from the class filmed their own instruction video to teach others the lifesaving skills they learnt.
Zoe Lawrence and Bella Keane used a toy bear to demonstrate what to do when someone has collapsed.
Hearing about the video, Ali said: “I was so impressed. They have clearly listened and have enjoyed everything that has been taught. The kids find the sessions fun and have all commented on how easy an automated external defibrillator is to use. One young lad thanked us for making them life savers, it was so nice to hear.
“I really want other schools to take up my offer of training all their year six students to do the same. The more people we train the better, my aim is to help improve our out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rate.”
If any local schools want to sign up for the same sessions they can contact Alison via email [email protected]
