There are some schools where, after a few visits, you stop feeling like a visitor. Cheriton Primary School in Folkestone is definitely one of them.
At the start of term, we were back at Cheriton for our annual start of the school year visit, marking six consecutive years of delivering first aid training to the pupils and staff. That’s six years of travelling down to sunny Folkestone, six years of seeing familiar faces and six years of watching pupils build their first aid knowledge year after year.
It’s a truly wonderful school, with fantastic staff, and after six years I almost feel like part of the team. But the best thing about returning year after year isn’t simply seeing everyone again. It’s hearing what happens when pupils take those skills away from the classroom and into real life.
When first aid leaves the classroom
Over the past five years, we’ve heard about several occasions where pupils and staff from Cheriton Primary have used skills learned through our training in genuine situations. A Year 4 pupil was on the seafront when an elderly gentleman began feeling faint. Remembering what they had learned, they helped him by laying him down and raising his legs. A Year 5 pupil was with a friend when they began choking on a meatball. The pupil was able to recognise what was happening and carry out the correct treatment.
Then there was the Year 6 pupil who found themselves in an incredibly frightening situation while out on a bike ride with a friend. The friend suffered a serious fall, with the handlebars causing a severe abdominal injury and significant blood loss. Despite the seriousness of what was happening, the pupil remained calm, supported their friend and spoke to the emergency services operator. Their actions also helped the air ambulance locate them quickly.
These are exactly the situations that demonstrate why first aid training for children matters. You never know when a skill learned at school might be needed.
25 minutes of CPR that made the difference
It’s not only the pupils who have put their training into practice. One member of staff found himself facing every parent’s worst nightmare when his dad suffered a cardiac arrest during a family meal. Mr Moore immediately began CPR. He continued for around 25 minutes until the emergency services arrived. His dad survived and is alive and well today.
It’s impossible to know exactly what would have happened without those actions, but what we do know is that Mr Moore was able to respond when it mattered. That’s why we teach first aid. Not because we expect children or staff to find themselves in these situations, but because emergencies don’t give you any warning. Knowing what to do can give someone the confidence to act rather than freeze.
Six years of learning that sticks
One of the things that makes our visits to Cheriton so rewarding is seeing pupils remember what they’ve learned in previous years. The aim isn’t simply to deliver the same lesson once and move on. By returning each year, pupils have the opportunity to revisit important first aid skills, reinforce their knowledge and gradually build their confidence as they get older.
Headteacher Sophia Dover said: “A huge thank you again. The pupils enjoy and look forward to your visit. Most now remember you and can recall the learning from previous years. It’s always fab having Sam in, he’s such a wonderful guy.”
And Mrs Baker, a Year 4 teacher, added: “Sam has such a wonderful way of delivering first aid to young people.”
That’s lovely feedback, but for us the most rewarding part is knowing that the learning is remembered when it really matters.
First aid training for primary schools
First aid should be practical, memorable and appropriate for the age of the children learning it. Our primary school first aid training is designed to give pupils simple, practical skills that they can understand and remember. From knowing when and how to call 999, to helping someone who is choking, dealing with injuries and understanding what to do when someone becomes unwell, we build knowledge in a way that children can take away with them.
And as Cheriton Primary has demonstrated over the past six years, those lessons can stay with children long after we’ve packed away the training equipment and headed home.
We’re already looking forward to coming back next year.
Six years down. Here’s to the seventh.