Saving lives can be child's play
Screams of help come from the computer room in Leamore Primary School. 'Wake up, wake up, wake up," shouts one pupil frantically.
But there is no need to be concerned.
The Year 4 pupils are taking part in a first aid course run by St John Ambulance.
"What we do with pupils is teach them skills that will help them deal with things that they may come across, including asthma, choking and bleeding, says Nick Pitt, the charity's schools co-ordinator.
The Express & Star has teamed up with St John Ambulance to boost the numbers of trained first aiders.
We are offering our readers 50 per cent off the price of an essential first aid course ran by St John across the Black Country and Staffordshire.
The initiative is part of St John's Save A Life September campaign.
They last for three hours and cover emergency situations such as choking, sever bleeding, chest pains, and a step-by-step instruction on resuscitating someone.
The courses are offered to Express & Star readers for £15 by calling 0121 237 3879 and quoting 'Express & Star'.
You can check for course dates in your area below, or by going to www.sja.org.uk
"It gives them the confidence to deal with a situation. It gives them many vital life-saving skills.
"We have done courses with 7,500 children since January and hope to have seen 15,000 by the end of the year."
St John Ambulance run courses at schools for pupils from seven years old to 18.
The ultimate aim is to train two million children a year by 2018.
This year St John is aiming to train 15,000 youngsters in the West Midlands and 250,000 nationally.
And earlier this year 410,000 children took part in The Big First Aid Lesson which was hosted by Claudia Winkleman.
St John Ambulance research shows that seven out of 10 pupils wouldn't know what to do if someone they knew was hurt, and yet the majority say they would like to learn first aid.
As the nation's leading first aid charity, St John Ambulance believes that every young person should have the chance to learn vital life saving skills.
Mr Pitt said: "They always love it. They become very engaged and particularly excited when we come along. It connects to other aspects of their learning and is a life saving skill they remember.
"Having first aid training added to the curriculum is something we campaign for to be included on the National Curriculum. Before the General Election we had four out of the five main parties support it and have it in their manifestos. Unfortunately it was the Conservatives who were the only ones not to support it. So we still have some work to do."
During the session, the pupils are engaged and diligently complete each task.
The school is encouraging pupils to take on more responsibility and first aid will form part of that.
Michelle Hill, interim head at Leamore Primary School, said: "Teaching the pupils first aid is part of our aim for them to take on bigger responsibilities. We are creating a series of jobs pupils will have around the school on some of those roles will be first aiders.
"Those children who have completed this training will be able to apply for those jobs. They will be given a uniform and be on first aid duty at break and lunch times.
"First aid is a life skill and the pupils will benefit hugely from it. It is also away of demonstrating to them that there are different types of training they can do and is another career path they could go down.
"It builds up their confidence and equips them with the necessary skills to take action if they come across someone in need.
"I absolutely support the case for first aid to be taught in schools. It is a skill for life that can make a difference where ever they are."
Now in its fifth year, Save a Life September teaches thousands of people life-saving skills for free through various means.
They include hundreds of first aid demonstrations at shopping centres, train stations, stadiums, town centres and more and distributing 100,000 free first aid guides so everyone can remember the key five ways to save a life.
Emma Elgerton, community training co-ordinator for St John Ambulance in the West Midlands, said: "First aid is for everyone and it's easy and fun to learn.
"We believe that everyone should have first aid knowledge – and the more people that take part in Save a Life September, the higher the chance that someone will be on hand to help when it's needed most." Here is a list of forthcoming events in the Black Country and Staffordshire:
September 11 – Brewood Library, Brewood, 2-4pm
September 11 – Perton Library, Wolverhampton, 10am-noon
September 11 – Burntwood Library, Burntwood,10am-noon
September 12 – Wincanton Family Fun Day, Stafford, 11-4
September 14 – Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, 12-8pm
September 14 – Codsall Library, Wolverhampton, 2-4pm
September 18 – Stafford Library, 1-3pm
September 19 – Amerton Farm, Stafford, 9-4pm
September 20 – Lichfield Market, Lichfield, 10-4pm. September 21, Queen Square, Wolverhampton, 9-5pm
September 25 – Churchill Shopping Centre, Dudley, 9am-5pm (Ian Austin MP 12.30-1pm)
September 26 – Saddler's Centre,Walsall, 8am-6pm
September 29 – Merry Hill, Mummy Morning, Brierley Hill, 10am-noon
September 29 – Walsall Manor hospital (atrium), 10am-6pm
September 30 – Wharf Street, Wolverhampton, open day, 7.30pm.
For more information on St John Ambulance's work, including how to become a volunteer and details of training for the public, schools and businesses, visit www.sja.org.uk, or call 08700 10
49 50.
St John Ambulance also runs popular Badger, Cadet, and Rise, groups for those aged from five to 25 where youngsters learn first aid skills and are able to put them to the test.
But it is not just all first aid.
The groups also go camping, try out arts and crafts and take part in team games and activities.
The Black Country has the lowest number of people trained in first aid in the country.
Just 13 per cent of adults would be able to act swiftly to take potentially life-saving action in the immediate moments after an accident or an injury.
The Express & Star has teamed up with St John Ambulance to boost the numbers of trained first aiders.
We are offering our readers 50 per cent off the price of an essential first aid course ran by St John across the Black Country and Staffordshire.
The initiative is part of St John's Save A Life September campaign.
This month marks the fourth year of the annual awareness month, and the charity is aiming to equip more people with the skills to save a life than ever before.
These courses are run at St John centres in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall, Sandwell, Halesowen, Oldbury, Brierley Hill, Kidderminster, Stafford, and Rugeley.
They last for three hours and cover emergency situations such as choking, sever bleeding, chest pains, and a step by step instruction on resuscitating someone.
The courses are offered to Express & Star readers for £15 by calling 0121 237 3879 and quoting 'Express & Star'. You can check for course dates in your area by going to www.sja.org.uk.
