The importance of teaching First Aid skills to young people

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Parenting Skills

Published on Thursday, 24 April 2014 19:00

Last Updated on 23 April 2014

Emma Hammett

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Here we are explaining the importance of teaching First Aid skills to young people.

 

Research has shown that young people have not fully developed the part of their brain associated with risk evaluation until their 20s. This means that there is a huge group of risk takers who need to be equipped with the knowledge to help themselves and each other if involved in a medical emergency.

A survey, commissioned by the British Red Cross revealed startling statistics:

• One in seven young people (aged 11-16) have been in an emergency situation as a result of a friend drinking too much alcohol.
• More than 532,000 young teenagers have had to cope with a drunken friend who was sick, injured or unconscious in the last year.
• 89 per cent of 11-16 year olds had found themselves confronted with some kind of medical emergency.
• A quarter of young people have had to deal with asthma attacks.
• a third of teenagers have had to cope with someone with a head injury.
• one in five teenagers have been faced with someone who is choking.

The most frightening result from this research was that: when faced with these emergency situations, 46 per cent of the teenagers simply didn’t know what to do and 44% of them panicked.

In the survey’s most compelling statistic, a huge majority – 97 per cent of young people, believed first aid education would improve their confidence, skills and willingness to act in a crisis.

First Aid  is a vital life skill that should be taught in schools and clubs around the country. Learning First Aid skills is invaluable to young people and highly relevant for their Duke of Edinburgh and Sports Leadership Awards. A First Aid qualification is highly sought after by UCAS – particularly if applying for a medically related subject. Parents are far more confident leaving their little ones with a teenager equipped with the skills to help if there is an accident and sports and kids clubs see First Aid skills as a necessity.

Therefore not only are the skills hugely valuable, likely to be used and could save a life; the qualification gained is likely to increase a young person’s chances in this highly competitive world.