Pupils learn vital first aid training

ALL P7 pupils in Dumfries have been trained in vital first aid at this year’s Operation Safety. And the interactive event is proving to be as popular as ever. First held in 1998 and running over three weeks, it gives children the opportunity to experience various scenarios and hazards which they could face in real life. They are taught and guided how to react to these situations in the most appropriate way by the various agencies involved in the event, including the Scottish Ambulance Service, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland, SP Energy Networks and Youth Works. One of the workshops from this year’s event was lead by Ali Donowho, Scottish Ambulance Service Technician from Lockerbie Station, who explained to the children what they should do in the case of an electrocution. The children learnt about putting their safety first, the recovery position and how to use a defibrillator.

Each class was also given an introduction to CARe Zone - a strategy by the Scottish Ambulance Service, Dumfries and Galloway Council and NHS Dumfries and Galloway to enhance community readiness for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests – and were provided with child-friendly information about what to do in the event of a cardiac arrest. Ali said: “It was an absolute pleasure to interact with the children throughout the event, to teach them some essential, life-saving skills, and to also answer the many interesting questions they had. “This is the 27th year we have been running Operation Safety and it is still as vitally important as when we first kicked it off. “The event gives young people the chance to learn and gain confidence in using life-saving skills, which will benefit both themselves and their communities.”