First Aid – Skills for Life
FIRST AID: SKILLS THAT COULD SAVE A LIFE!
What would you do if someone suddenly collapsed or suffered a serious injury? Army Cadets gives young people the practical skills and confidence to stay calm, take action and make a difference when it matters most.
First Aid is a key part of the Army Cadet experience. Starting with the basics, cadets learn how to respond to severe bleeding, choking and cardiac arrest, including making a 999 call, carrying out a primary survey and performing CPR. They also develop the confidence to deal with burns, wounds and other common injuries.
As cadets progress through the syllabus, their skills develop further. At Two Star, they can work towards the St John Ambulance Youth Activity First Aid certificate, covering injuries and conditions including fractures, sprains, strains, hypothermia and heat exhaustion. At Three and Four Star, more advanced training can lead to the St John Ambulance Activity First Aid qualification.
These are practical, life-saving skills that can make a real difference in an emergency.
But it doesn’t stop in the classroom.
Competitions
Our cadets put their skills to the test! Teams compete in local, regional and national competitions, tackling realistic scenarios that test their knowledge, teamwork and ability to stay calm under pressure.
Recently, Minden Company cadets represented Wales at the National First Aid Competition, while a team from Bangor Detachment representing Clwyd & Gwynedd were impressive runners-up in the Welsh competition.
And sometimes those skills are needed for real.
Gwobrau
Cadets from across Clwyd & Gwynedd have been recognised through ACCT UK Praiseworthy Action Awards for helping members of the public in emergencies. Their actions have included providing CPR, assisting people who had collapsed or suffered seizures, helping at road accidents and supporting casualties until professional medical help arrived.
These are powerful examples of how training can translate into real-world confidence and action.
King’s Nursing Cadet Scheme
First Aid also provides opportunities beyond the cadet syllabus. Through the Royal College of Nursing’s King’s Nursing Cadet Scheme, Cadets and Young Adults aged 16–25 can explore careers in nursing and health and social care. The programme combines expert-led learning with the opportunity for clinical observational work experience at a local health board facility. No qualifications are required – just enthusiasm for working in healthcare. The programme has helped a number of cadets’ move on to healthcare careers.
First Aid isn’t just another badge or qualification.
It’s a skill for life – and one day, it could help you save one.
Learn it. Train it. Test it. Be ready when it matters.