In Mrs. Smith’s PSHE group, pupils have participated in a series of five lessons based on the principles of first aid. The Heartstart initiative teaches people what to do in a life-threatening situation. The training was delivered to pupils via role-plays, presentations and video-clips. Activities reinforced skills such as 999 calls, how to assess an unconscious patient, how to put someone in the recovery position, performing CPR and dealing with choking and bleeding. Community resuscitation officers from the North East Ambulance Service visited the group to deliver some of the practical training. Lynsey McCabe, the Community Resuscitation Development Co-ordinator from the North East Ambulance Service, presented pupils with their certificates during their final session.  Photos can be viewed on the website.

After completing the Heartstart programme we asked pupils, “Do you think young people should learn first aid?” Below are some examples of their responses:

• “Yes, because if a young person finds someone who needs help then they will know what to do. If they didn’t know what to do then they might get scared and run away and the person who needed help would be in great danger. I have enjoyed PSHE lessons” Louis Smith.
• “Yes, because it could make someone better and maybe save a life” Abbi Potter.
• “Yes because people need to be confident and know what to do in an emergency” Joseph Haslam.
• “Yes, because they need to know what should happen in an emergency.” Bradley Maughan
• “I would like to give a big thank you to the North East Ambulance Service for coming in to help us” Amy Robson.