Maidstone and Weald cadets gain Young First Aider Award
26.09.11
Nine cadets from Kent Army Cadet Force (KACF) recently achieved the nationally recognised Young First Aider Award. Young First Aider is delivered by St John Ambulance, the nation’s leading first aid charity, but operated from within the Army Cadet Force, by qualified instructors and assessors.
The recipients of the award are:
Cadet Lance Corporal Charlie Smith, 15 Cranbrook
Cadet Lance Corporal Macauley Line, 15, Cranbrook
Cadet Lance Corporal Matthew Hedderman, 14, Ditton
Cadet Chris Killackey, 14, Snodland
Cadet Lance Corporal Danny Orlando, 14 Ditton
Cadet Lance Corporal Richard Gatter, 14 Snodland
Cadet Lance Corporal Jake Evans, 15 Cranbrook
Cadet Lance Corporal Sam Farrow, 16, Snodland; and
Cadet Lance Corporal Connor Geelan, 15, Cranbrook
The first aid course (which is part of the Two Star ACF syllabus) is run over two days, the young people learnt by PowerPoint presentations and videos - learning all aspects of first aid from fainting, choking and fits to bone injuries and severe bleeds. They also learnt how to manage an incident and cover the practical side of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), recovery position, bandages and slings and they were put through scenarios to test their knowledge and skills.
Cadet Lance Corporal Richard Gatter, 14 from Snodland said:
“Having this qualification will help us in the world of work as we could all be first aiders; we will now be able to help others out in an emergency. It is a very intense course with a lot of information to take in but we had fun in learning these new skills, we are all really proud to have passed".
Jo Buchan, Education Officer at St John Ambulance, said: ‘Up to 15000 people die each year in situations where first aid could have helped them live. ‘We’re delighted that these young people have completed their Young First Aider course – it means they now have the skills to be the difference between life and death.