St John WA provides free first aid training to Collie primary students after a nearly $20,000 donation

About 1500 Collie primary school students have received support to gain first aid skills, with St John WA rolling out its free First Aid Focus program to five primary schools late last month after a nearly $20,000 donation. The program was supported by the Collie & Districts Bendigo Community Bank, with education officers already having visited St Brigid’s Primary School and Allanson Primary School to showcase what age-appropriate skills they could use in a medical emergency. They also learned what a medical emergency looks like and they can take to help themselves or others. St John WA chief preventative officer Megs O’Donnell said it was never too early for students to learn first aid skills. “In WA, about one child calls Triple Zero for their parent or carer each month, meaning educational programs can save lives,” she said. “We want to make sure all WA students are equipped with the knowledge they need to not only recognise an emergency but to act.” Collie & Districts Bendigo Community Bank chair Jeff Riley said first aid was an important life skill for children to learn. “While it’s an unpleasant thought, children can be confronted with an emergency situation at any time,” he said. “If a child can provide basic first aid assistance, they have the opportunity to save a life.” Mr Riley said the initiative would give Collie children the confidence and skills to cope under pressure and provide aid which could be the difference between life and death.