Kids stay safe, thanks to digital first aid course

School of the Air students have ticked off an innovative digital first aid St John training program. The kids from the Kalgoorlie-based School of the Air were the first to trial the aid, which will provide vital lifesaving skills to West Australians, regardless of their location, age or circumstance. An Australian first, the program has been developed as part of St John’s commitment to building resilient communities — and ensuring people have the skills and knowledge to “look after” each other in an emergency. “Our experience with the COVID-19 virus has highlighted the importance of having essential first-aid skills to help care for our loved ones and neighbours,” Phil Holman, St John WA Director of Health Services, said. “Most of these students live in remote locations, many kilometres from the nearest town and wouldn’t learn these valuable first-aid skills in a classroom setting.” Kalgoorlie School of the Air principal Eloise Jansen Van Vuuren said the skills course had many benefits. “We provide distance education to primary school students who are geographically isolated, most living on farms, pastoral stations, roadhouses, remote communities and mining leases,” she said. “This technology is invaluable for a community like ours where many families are based in isolated locations, with limited access to immediate medical care. This training may save someone’s life.” The course takes participants through a series of 30 skills, including training for injuries and emergency scenarios such as asthma, choking, burns and dehydration, plus CPR.