First aid - helping young excluded people

Young people with behavioural problems have been reaping the benefits of a Red Cross first aid course designed specially to meet their needs.

Debbie Brooks, first aid trainer, runs regular sessions with young people who have either dropped out or been excluded from schools. She said: “Some of our young students have been in all kinds of trouble but I never have any trouble with them.

"We’re all on first name terms and everything is relaxed because they know that they are going to benefit from learning first aid.

“They definitely see it as a genuinely useful life skill. Sadly, a lot of these kids do regularly come across dangerous situations; some of their stories are incredible. With so many drug and alcohol related problems, fight injuries and motorcycle accidents, first aid is directly relevant to their everyday lives. As soon as they learn the skills, they are actually out there treating injuries.

Useful skills

“One young lad, Peter*, told me he had previously helped a friend who had been stabbed in the ribs by holding his hand over the injury while phoning an ambulance. He was so pleased when I pointed out that he’d reacted extremely well to the incident, and he went on to attend every single class and do everything right. Some of our students have so much potential, and it’s just a question of adding to their existing knowledge.

“A lot of the young people come in with nothing – some can hardly read or write. By attending the first aid sessions, they grow in confidence, learn useful new skills and gain qualifications that they can then use to actually get a job or go to college. Employers are always looking for staff with first aid experience and these students – young as they are – really do have hands-on experience of helping people in real emergencies.

*Name changed to protect identity

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