Delacombe Primary School pupils Molly Aitken, left, and Dakota Campbell get some tips from St John Ambulance First Aid in Schools manager Martin Wells. PICTURE: JEREMY BANNISTER
St John Ambulance will offer free first aid training to school students across Ballarat as part of a statewide initiative.
At Delacombe Primary School, First Aid in Schools manager Martin Wells and St John staff spent time talking to students and teachers about the benefits of learning basic skills which could, one day, save a life.
St John is inviting schools in Ballarat to register for the First Aid in Schools program and hopes to train 10,000 children across the state during term 4 this year.
There are also plans to train 50,000 students in 2013.
St John chief executive officer Stephen Horton said first aid was vital for people of all ages.
“Statistics show that the majority of accidents happen at home but less than a third of households have someone who has recently been first aid trained,” he said.
“There’s obviously a big gap here and St John believes there is no better place to start bridging this gap than at school.”
For more information or to register your school, visit www.stjohnvic.com.au