British Red Cross offers first aid course for grandparents (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

British Red Cross offers first aid course for grandparents

11:18am Friday 26th October 2012 in News By Staff reporter

The British Red Cross is offering a first aid course specifically for grandparents who want to learn simple skills that could make all the difference if an emergency happened while they were caring for their grandchildren.

The two-hour course, at Westlea Fire Station in Swindon, takes place on Thursday November 1.

It uses the Red Cross Everyday First Aid approach – the charity’s simplest ever method of teaching life-saving skills – that will give participants the knowledge and confidence to respond if a child or baby starts choking, becomes unconscious or swallows something harmful.

Jo Riches, community based first aid coordinator in Wiltshire, said: “We recognise that more and more grandparents are responsible for the childcare of their grandchildren while parents return to work. So we try to create scenarios relating to common accidents that occur around the home such as bumps, burns, cuts and choking – all very helpful when looking after young children.”

In 2011, the Red Cross polled of over 2,000 adults across the UK and the results showed 81 per cent of people thought everyone should know basic first aid but just half of those surveyed felt confident they would be able to help if someone collapsed in front of them.

Worryingly, nearly two-thirds of respondents said they thought people avoided learning first aid because of the responsibility it carried, and fears of doing the wrong thing.

The course takes place between 11am and 1pm on November 1 at Westlea Fire Station. It costs £15, refreshments are provided and those attending receive a workbook. To book a place, please call 01452 726661 or email ttibbs@redcross.org.uk.