School pupils from Wiltshire triumphed in the regional heat of St John Ambulance’s national schools first aid competition yesterday.

Teams of four students, aged between seven and 15, from 27 schools across Bristol, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire competed in a series of challenges at the Avon and Somerset Police headquarters in Portishead.

The winning junior and secondary school teams, St Joseph’s Catholic School, Malmesbury and Sheldon School, Chippenham, have clinched places in the competition’s finals at the popular theme park, Drayton Manor in Tamworth, Staffordshire on Wednesday June 26.

Lizzie Christopher, headteacher at St Joseph’s, said: "It was a really exciting day and it was a high pressure competition but all three of our teams rose to the challenge and enjoyed it. ‘We’re incredibly proud of them achieving first and second place.

‘I’d like to thank St John Ambulance for organising the event and the school’s business manager Elaine Pearce for her first aid training."

Teams from Sheldon School also took the top two places in the senior competition.

Teacher Jackie Needham said: "First aid training helps with communication skills, team-working and building confidence and, if one of our pupils goes on to save a life, that’s what it’s all about.

"We’re delighted and proud to have won – the children have all worked so hard."

Each team involved in the regional heats was asked to show their initiative, communication skills and confidence when applying first aid in challenging emergency scenarios.

‘Live’ casualties were played by students from Weston College, who also provided realistic injuries, using media make-up techniques.

Organiser of the regional heat, St John Ambulance’s Gilly Boote, said: "All of the competing teams have done really well and it’s brilliant to see so many students passionate about first aid.

"We’d love more teachers to give their pupils the opportunity to learn first aid as it could be the difference between life and death and today’s event goes to show that children enjoy learning it too."

The national competition winners will get £750 to spend on school equipment, with the runner up and third placed team getting £350 and £200, respectively.

Consultant cardiologist Dr William McCrea from Swindon’s Great Western Hospital was among the VIP guests presenting awards and said: "These awards highlight the absolute, urgent necessity of training children in the ability to save a life.

"I hope that inspirational events like this will help persuade our politicians to make first aid and CPR training compulsory in schools."

St John Ambulance delivers first aid training in schools and through its youth schemes. In 2012, the charity taught valuable life saving skills to more than 93,000 young people. Its free online schools resource, Teach the Difference, gives teachers the ability to teach up to 28 first aid skills with complete lesson plans and videos, including how to treat choking and chest pains, as well as meeting a range of National Curriculum requirements.

For more information visit www.teachthedifference.org.uk