I really enjoyed the First Aid Training, particularly learning about the different ways you can help someone in an emergency. For example, I found it useful to learn that there are several techniques that can be used if someone is choking. Although I had completed first aid training before, I still learned some new information, especially about treating burns.

The course did not contain anything that particularly surprised me, but it reinforced important skills that I already knew. I now feel very confident about helping someone in an emergency because I have previously used some of these skills to treat injuries and give advice to others. For example, I have learned how to apply a bandage to stop bleeding, support a suspected broken bone, and even create a makeshift tourniquet to control severe bleeding.

I found all of the practical activities useful because you never know what situation you might face during the day. Having basic first aid knowledge can help you stay calm and make better decisions. For example, if someone is not breathing, many people may panic and forget what to do, but I feel confident that I could recall my training, apply it appropriately, and seek additional help if needed.

I believe first aid is an important skill for all young people to learn, even if they do not plan to work in healthcare. At some point, most people will encounter someone with a serious burn, injury, or medical emergency. Knowing what to do can reduce panic, help protect both the injured person and yourself, and give you the confidence to take appropriate action. It can also provide reassurance that you did everything you could to help.

In the future, I hope to use these skills regularly because I am interested in a career in healthcare and would like to spend some time working as a paramedic. This training is particularly valuable for healthcare careers, as it includes skills such as CPR and responding to patients who are not breathing. However, the knowledge is useful for everyone, whether that is helping a child who is choking or responding to an accident in everyday life.

I would definitely recommend this training to other students. First aid knowledge can make people feel much more prepared if something happens to a family member, friend, or member of the public. Even if an outcome is not successful, knowing that you were able to try and help can make a big difference. In my opinion, everyone should learn basic first aid because a short training session could one day help save someone's life. Safiyah Syed

I really enjoyed the practical side of the First Aid Training, especially practising CPR and learning the recovery position, because it made the session interactive and realistic. I learned how to respond safely in an emergency, assess a situation, and provide basic first aid while waiting for professional help. One thing that surprised me was how much difference simple first aid can make before an ambulance arrives. I was also surprised by how few people are willing to help in an emergency, which showed me why learning first aid is such an important skill. The training has made me feel much more confident about helping someone in an emergency, although I know I would still need to stay calm under pressure. I think first aid is an important skill for young people because emergencies can happen anywhere, and knowing what to do could help save a life. I would definitely recommend the training to other students as it was enjoyable, practical, and taught valuable skills that could be useful in the future. Sagal Hassan

Taking part in the First Aid Training was actually a lot more interesting and reassuring than I had originally expected. I went in feeling unsure about what I’d be able to do in a real emergency, but practising things like CPR and the recovery position made everything feel much more doable. One moment that really stuck with me was when we learnt how to help someone who’s choking as it made me realise how quickly you might need to react in real life. I also didn’t realise how important it is to stay calm and check the situation before jumping in, and that’s something I’ll definitely remember. By the end of the session, I felt genuinely more confident, like I could actually help someone if something went wrong. I’d definitely recommend the training to other students because it makes you feel prepared rather than helpless. Maja Majewska 

The first aid training we received was very useful and extremely informative. We got to learn about the different symptoms of many different health issues we could face on our DofE silver expedition as well as everyday life. During this training, I learnt basic skills which are very important. For example, I learnt how to perform CPR on adults and children, as well as how many rescue breaths they may need. We used inflatable dummies to practice how to do it ourselves. I also learnt how to perform Heimlich manoeuvres on both adults and children, and how to know when to use it. We also learnt how to use a defibrillator with a live demonstration. One thing that surprised me was the variety of issues we are vulnerable to and the many different acronyms you can learn to support others. Overall, I enjoyed this training, it has taught me a lot, as well as allowed me to see live demonstrations and videos, with very good explanations. I recommend this experience to other students and even adults too, as it was a great way to explore the many different health implications people face day-to-day, the ways to spot it, and how to deal with it. We were also given our own CPR face mask keyring which is quite handy.  Ayman Ikhlef

During the first aid training, I learnt a lot more than I expected. The part I enjoyed most was practising CPR, as it helped me understand how important quick action can be. I also learnt how to deal with choking, how to check someone’s breathing, and how to put them in the recovery position. I was surprised by how confident I felt by the end of the session. The practical activities were really memorable and made the information easier to understand. I think first aid is an important skill for young people because you never know when someone might need help. In the future, I feel I could stay calmer and take the right steps if an emergency happened around me. I would definitely recommend the training to other students because it teaches skills that could save a life. Aisha Waberi

I really enjoyed the First Aid Training, especially learning how to put someone into the recovery position, because it was quick and easy to learn. I also learnt how to use a defibrillator and what to do if someone has stopped breathing. One thing that surprised me was how many chest compressions you have to do in one minute during CPR. After the training, I feel much more confident about helping someone in an emergency. One funny moment was when Aisha was practising CPR on the dummy and pushed much harder than she needed to! I think first aid is an important skill for young people because anyone could be in a situation where someone needs help. I will use what I have learnt if ever I need to help a family member, friend, or even a stranger. I would definitely recommend this training to other students because it teaches life-saving skills and builds confidence. Hanan Osman

The best thing that I really liked about being part of this First Aid Training programme was its usefulness and interest. One good thing is that we learn was the practical ways of how to behave in case of any real-life emergencies and practise them by ourselves on the dummies. Some things which I learnt included doing CPR and putting a patient in a recovery position as well as learning how to stop choking. Moreover, I was amazed by the fact that such small actions are this important for saving one's life. Before this training I would not feel ready to help in emergencies, but now I do. I strongly think that it is an important skill for young people as there is always a possibility in an emergency situation happening somewhere around us. I will recommend this training to my friends definitely as it helps to master an important skill that might become useful someday. It is also important that we received plastic mouthpieces which we could carry wherever we go in case we need to give CPR. Bahara Rahimi