St Andrew’s First Aid hope pilot lifesaving project will be extended across the country

A new lifesaving project aimed at teenagers is being piloted in four Glasgow secondary schools.

St Andrew’s First Aid’s BandAge 15 will focus on equipping 14-18 year olds with vital first aid skills and provide volunteering opportunities.

Pupils will be taught skills such as CPR, the recovery position and how to deal with a wide variety of major and minor first aid incidents.

Once they have been through the course they will be awarded with a nationally recognised certificate and will be offered the chance to take part in a peer mentoring programme later this year.

The four schools taking part in the pilot are St Roch’s Secondary, Springburn Academy, Cleveden Secondary and John Paul Academy.

However, subject to funding, St Andrew’s First Aid hopes in the future the project can be rolled out over a larger area.

Head teacher of St Roch’s Secondary School, Stephen Stone, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be involved in this pilot with St Andrew’s First Aid.

“The course will give them an understanding of the role of paramedics and will even be fully certificated. Not only will the young people gain in terms of wider achievement, they may well be able to save a life some day!”

St Andrews’ First Aid trainer, Frances Rooney (29), is delivering the training.

She hoped the project will encourage more people of all ages to learn first aid and that future funding can be secured to deliver more community based first aid projects.

She said: “This project will help to train the next generation of potential life savers and drive home the message that first aid is something that anyone can and should learn.”