The programme has trained 10,000 young people since 1954.
Scotland’s dedicated first aid charity is celebrating the 65th anniversary of its Cadets.
St Andrew’s First Aid Cadets is open to young people aged 11-15, providing them with an opportunity to develop and learn life-saving techniques in addition to vital life skills.
Since its founding in 1954, 10,000 young people have passed through the programme, many of whom have gone on to volunteer with St Andrew’s First Aid in their adult lives.
One of them is Rodger McBride, who joined the Cadets aged eight and has been a volunteer with the Saltcoats division for over 50 years.
He said “First Aid has always been a big part of my life, since watching my own father volunteer when I was a child. It was only natural that I would follow in his footsteps and St Andrew’s has been part of my family ever since.
“It’s so important that children are taught first aid skills. It instils huge confidence in themselves and in their ability to intervene and help save lives at any given moment. Over the years we have seen so many young people come up through Cadets which is allowing us to continue our great work across the country”
Stephanie MacLean, 18, joined the St Andrew’s First Aid Cadets four years ago. She said: “I joined the Cadets to learn first aid and help me on my mission to become an amazing primary school teacher. The skills I have learnt have not only set me up for my career, but I have made lifelong friends along the way.”
Stuart Callison, chief executive of St Andrew’s First Aid, said: “This milestone in the Cadets journey underpins the very real ability of young children to learn first aid skills. It also cements the continued appetite amongst this age range to know how to save a life.
“If all children in Scotland had the opportunity to be taught first aid and it was embedded in their early education, avoidable deaths could be dramatically reduced”
“Not only are first aid skills vital for the health of our nation, giving children such a valuable skill can set them apart for their future careers. Over the past 65 years, St Andrew’s First Aid Cadets have been a major contributor to first aid in Scotland and we are delighted to be celebrating this anniversary”
