First aid training can boost pre-school children’s confidence

Amelia Grant, a first aid instructor and former childcare education trainer in Cambridge, offers a programme that aims to teach children basic lifesaving skills and an increased awareness.

The programme is delivered by registered and experienced first aid instructors and has been developed to equip children with life skills that boost their confidence and self-esteem before they start school. 

‘Young children are capable of helping someone in an emergency situation if they are given the opportunity to learn and develop the skills,’ Ms Grant said. 

‘Our Cambridgeshire workshops are tailored specifically to meet the age groups of nursery age children and feedback has been fantastic from the children themselves, parents and nursery establishments we have delivered in.’

The workshops teach children how to recognise a variety of first aid situations and how to deal with them and summon help.

The Flat Stan manikins used (pictured) are meant to be more appealing and less intimidating for children to use, enabling them to practice CPR, how to check if someone is breathing and how to help someone who is choking, bleeding or has suffered a burn.

Rachel Watson, manager of the Cambridge Day Nursery praised the training programme after one of the nursery’s children, four-year-old Morgana, was able to deal calmly with her own severe nosebleed just after completing her Flat Stan training.

‘Morgana has had previous nose bleeds at the setting and she was amazing when this particular incident happened,’ Ms Watson said.

‘It was a bleed which required medical assistance and Morgana was able to remain calm and sit herself down with her with head leant forward to pinch the soft part of her nose, as she had been taught. Nursery staff were also in attendance, but Morgana knew exactly what to do!’ Ms Watson added.  

Ms Grant emphasised that there is an ongoing debate about whether first aid should be incorporated into the National Curriculum in the UK. 

‘In my opinion it would undoubtedly be a positive decision to teach a whole generation first aid skills so that they are able to help themselves and others in a medical emergency,’ she said. 

‘Prompt, appropriate first aid saves lives and children save lives every day. We see only too often in the media where children as young as three-years-old have called 999 and saved someone’s life.’

• The Flat Stan Junior First Aid programme is available for nurseries, pre-schools, and children’s groups across Cambridgeshire, with AG First Aid Training and with other first aid instructors across the UK.