Glasgow high school pupils learn lifesaving skills
Former STV presenter to compete in international beauty competition
The pilot training programme was designed with S3 students from Shawlands Academy and Holyrood Secondary School.
It was delivered by local frontline paramedics and covered topics such as the recovery position, recognising strokes, chest pain and heart attacks, drug and alcohol harm, and street first aid including excessive bleeding from penetrating wounds.
An evaluation by the University of Glasgow reported impressive results from this initial phase.
These included a 150 per cent increase in awareness of how to put someone in the recovery position, a 49 per cent increase in confidence in providing first aid to a penetrating wound, and a 30 per cent increase in confidence about responding to emergencies that might involve drugs and/or alcohol.
Figures also showed that there was a 44 per cent increase in confidence around responding to an emergency that might involve a heart attack, a 47 per cent increase in confidence when performing CPR, a 97 per cent increase in knowledge of when to use a defibrillator, and a 64 per cent increase in confidence in using a defibrillator.
Arran Lambie, S3 student at Holyrood Secondary School, said: "I really enjoyed the Young Minds Save Lives programme as it was really interactive and we got to use mannequins and VR headsets.
"We also got to take part in an escape room where we solved mysteries using the information we'd learned and we had to work as a team.
"It was a really good way to keep the knowledge in our heads and make it something that we'll remember forever."
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Michael Dickson, chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, said: "We are delighted with the evaluation results and the brilliant feedback we've had from the schools, pupils and their families saying that the Young Minds Save Lives programme has been fun, engaging, informative and inspiring.
'This programme shows the power of collaborative work and what can be achieved by creating strong links with schools to design and deliver new and innovative ways of teaching young people vital live-saving skills.
"The next step is now to secure ongoing investment which will enable us to roll the initiative out across the country.
"We can then train more young people in vital skills and preventative healthcare areas, all tailored to suit them and their local community's needs."
More information about how to support the Young Minds Save Lives initiative can be obtained by emailing: sas.ymsl@nhs.scot.
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