YEAR 10 pupils at Waseley Hills High School in Rubery are set to receive life saving first aid skills with a visit from St John’s Ambulance trainers next month.

The session was organised after a member of staff won a day’s free training for a class of students at the NEC’s Education Show in March.

The school decided that first aid was important enough a subject that it added to the prize, paying for a further two groups to also receive the training, meaning 90 students in total will be able to be trained in how to deal with situations ranging from choking, and bleeding, to asthma attacks, burns and scalds, putting people into the recovery position, treating bone, muscle and joint injuries, and dealing with fainting, as well as giving people Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

Head of PSHE and citizenship, Lucy Harris said: “We were very lucky to win the day’s training and decided that it was such a great opportunity, we should open it to as many of our year 10 pupils as possible.

“First aid is a life skill that teaches young people what they need to know in a medical emergency as well as communication and teamwork. We view this as an important element to their all round development alongside their education and are very much looking forward to the day.”

Nick Pitt, regional schools training co-ordinator for St John Ambulance in the West Midlands, added: “This is a large undertaking but it will be worthwhile to have another 90 young people in the area who could be the difference between a life lost and life saved.

“We believe that anyone can learn first aid, no matter what age and the Student first aid course gives young people the knowledge and confidence to act in an emergency. We would be happy to talk to any school that wants to.”

To book school training or find out more about St John Ambulance, call 0121 237 3879, write to west-mids-training@sja.org.uk or visit sja.org.uk.