Why teenagers need First Aid Training

Today I’m delighted to introduce you to the very lovely Emma Hammett from First Aid For Life.

Emma runs really helpful & practical courses for teenagers, schools and workplaces around coping in an emergency.

Today Emma is my guest blogger.

Teenagers are the most likely to push boundaries and take risks and when things go wrong it is vital that they are equipped with the skills and confidence to help.
A survey, commissioned by the British Red Cross revealed frightening statistics:
• One in seven young people (aged 11-16) have been in an emergency situation as a result of a friend drinking too much alcohol.
• More than 532,000 young teenagers have been left to cope with a drunken friend who was sick, injured or unconscious in the last year.
• 89 per cent of 11-16 year olds had found themselves confronted with some kind of medical emergency.
• A quarter of young people have had to deal with asthma attacks.
• A third of teenagers have had to cope with someone with a head injury.
• One in five teenagers have had to help someone who is choking.
Crucially: when faced with these emergency situations, 44 per cent panicked and 46 per cent simply didn’t know what to do.
In the survey’s most compelling statistic, 97 per cent of young people, believed first aid education would improve their confidence, skills and willingness to act in a crisis.

First Aid is an essential life skill and helps young people remain safer by appreciating risk and being able to help each other if they are involved in a medical emergency. My own teenagers have both had to use their first aid skills and knowledge on numerous occasions; at parties on the sports pitch and whilst doing their Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions.

A First Aid qualification is invaluable to young people striving to achieve their Duke of Edinburgh and Sports Leadership Awards and is highly sought after by UCAS – particularly if applying for a medically related subject. Parents would feel far more confident leaving their little ones babysat by a teenager who has been equipped with the skills to help if there is an accident and Sports and kids clubs see First Aid skills as a necessity.

Therefore not only are the skills hugely valuable, likely to be used and could save a life; the qualification gained is likely to increase a young person’s chances in this highly competitive world.
First Aid for Life runs courses with numerous schools and clubs and provides scheduled courses suitable for young people to attend. We also love running bespoke courses for groups of friends and are happy to tailor them for specific requirements such as post exam trips away, GAP years and sports qualifications.

Please contact [email protected], www.firstaidforlife.org.uk or call 0208 675 4036

In addition http://onlinefirstaid.com has a specific First Aid for Teenagers course which will allow them to access these vital skills on their computers and mobiles.
There are numerous free resources available on our website http://www.firstaidforlife.org.uk/blog/