CHILDREN from a primary started a programme of CPR training in 2015 – and it’s been such a success they have received an award for it.

Pupils at Fellview Primary School, Caldbeck, started the programme in 2015 after the installation of a defibrillator and received the Gold Cardiac Smart Award for ensuring pupils kept their CPR training up to date.

This year the schoolchildren added first aid training to their skills and were all presented with Mini Medic First Aider certificates by Carl Carr and Deborah Renac from Carlisle United Football Club Community Sports Trust.

Mini Medics teaches children about the importance of first aid. It shows them how to apply the techniques in a real-life situation, and so children can remain calm in the event of an emergency and save a life.

Get children engaged and having fun while learning basic life-saving skills.

The course is educational yet interactive and involves many practical activities, all of them taught with no confusing jargon. As a result, children can stay engaged while learning.

Carl Carr, Carlisle United Football Club primary stars co-ordinators, said: “Since September, CUFC Community Sports Trust has been delivering Mini Medic first aid courses to primary school children throughout Cumbria.

“The programme has had positive feedback and been well received by teachers and pupils.

“CUFC Community Sports Trust has delivered the course to more than 500 children last autumn in the north of Cumbria, with plans to start delivering in the west of the county in the New Year.

“It is their goal to equip our region’s primary pupils from reception age to Year 6 with some vital life-saving skills, some everyday first aid needs, and most importantly the confidence to use them out in the wider world and at home.

“The course covers topics such as CPR, the recovery position, bandaging, burns, asthma, household hazards and injury prevention among other first aid skills.

“The course programme is adaptable and inclusive. It is hands-on but complemented with theory throughout.

“Each pupil who completes the mornings training receives a Mini Medic certificate with their name on.”

All children from reception through to year six took part in the training led by Deborah Renac and received their awards which confirmed children had developed their first aid skills to another level.

Deborah said: “It has been a pleasure to teach the children such important skills and see how much they have thoroughly enjoyed the practical learning.”