Herm schoolchildren learn about the recovery position as they attend to their young ‘patients’. (Picture by Mary Carey, 0771329)

THE Herm schoolchildren have all become Young First Aiders with St John Ambulance. Teacher Mary Carey followed up last month’s fire and ambulance training exercise, for which the children had a front-row view, with a visit from St John trainer Katie Sweeney.

The exercise had highlighted the need for everyone on the island to have some basic first aid knowledge – and the children are no exception. The possibility of them finding themselves alone with a casualty are probably higher than in some other places, as the Herm children tend to roam further from home than they would for example in the UK.

A full day was given over to the training course, which covered part one of the full certificate, starting with the basics (bearing in mind the youngest children are only four and five), such as what emergency numbers to call in various situations.

The day went on to include coping in an emergency, asthma attacks and choking.

A large part of the course covered controlling a situation if alone with a casualty, such as checking for breathing, opening airways and moving a casualty into the recovery position. All the children had a go at treating a patient and in moving someone much bigger than themselves, to learn the easiest way to do it.

Every child completed the course and earned a Young First Aider certificate.

Four-year-old Ryan Jones, the youngest child in the school, has had an award-winning year.

He won the Herm School trophy for group activities after beating all the other age groups in a bowling contest.

The younger children are allowed a handicap in these kind of competitive games, but he did not need his and won anyway.

And after playing football every Saturday with St Martin’s for less than a year, Ryan has been awarded the trophy for most improved player in his age group.

The school has also been visited by Andy Woolley, regional secretary for the National Union of Teachers.

He spent the day with the children, hearing them read and looking at some of the projects they have worked on, including their annual calendar.

In a letter to them, he wrote:  ‘You are very lucky to have such a lovely school and to be able to enjoy all the things you do with Mrs Carey.

‘Perhaps you will send me a copy of next year’s calendar so we can put it up in our office where lots of other people can see it.’

He was so impressed that he intends to feature the school in an upcoming NUT magazine.