First Aid in Guernsey School Saves a Life

Eoghan King saved his sister's life during an evening meal of fish of chips thanks to the knowledge he learnt in the Young First Aider's Scheme.

The scheme is taught to school children in years three, four and five.

It involves a two hour session in each year teaching first aid skills that can be used in emergency situations.

Scheme manager Andy Bisson said: "We think it's been very successful, 10% of the population have now had some form of first aid training."

Eoghan told us the story of when he saved his sister from choking on a fish bone: "We were having fish and chips and my sister was eating her fish and she just got up and started trying to ask for a drink... she said I'm choking so I patted her 10 times, pulled her stomach back once and did 10 more pats on the back then they came up."

He received an award from his school in July 2010 for his "excellent use of first aid".

Andy said: "Eoghan did choking in year four which was 18 months ago, first aid is a life skill and Owen has shown how important it is that more and more people should have it."

While the scheme currently operates only in primary schools Andy said they hoped to develop it further with secondary school courses that could work as a precursor to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award as well as continuing to provide useful training in case of emergency.

Source: BBC News, 26 July 2010