The competition was held on 12 March with five schools entering a total of nine teams of four students each. As part of one of the tests, the teams were split in pairs to face the same scenario – this year it was an asthma attack. The teams then had to treat two ‘casualties’ in shock – one after being bitten by a dog and the other because of a cut on their arm.
Organisers said that all teams who took part did a great job and had a lot of knowledge. The winning schools received trophies donated by Jersey Electricity as well as money donated by the F & P C Scotto Charitable Trust. Coming first, Trinity Team B received £500, while Team A received £300. Les Landes school team J received £200.
Pictured: Trinity School runner-up team with Chris Bester, Jersey Electric Health, Safety and Environment Engineer and Sue Pugsley, St John. Schools’ Programme Co-Ordinator and Trainer.
Chris Godden, a teacher at Trinity School who runs the First Aid after school club, said: “The club had 14 members this year training from January to March and we picked eight to take part in the competition.
“We won two years ago and went through to the National Finals in the UK where two of our pairs came first but you never know what can happen in competition. Confidence is a big thing and both this year’s teams were quite confident. Unfortunately there are no National Finals being held this year.”
Thanks to the sponsorship of the F & P C Scotto Charitable Trust, St. John Ambulance teaches first aid to young people in 21 schools. Barry Marsden, Commandery Executive Officer at St. John Ambulance, explained: “Our mission statement is that we believe that no one should suffer from lack of first aid. We hold the belief that first aid is part of essential live skills and that by working with children from an early age, we can help save people’s lives.”