TEENAGERS as young as 14 are being taught how to deliver first aid in an Andover school.

Harrow Way Community School has launched a new initiative to deliver certificated first aid training to all Key Stage 4 students

‘Be Ready’, part of the school’s careers education programme, has been designed to give students highly valued additional skills and qualifications.

As a registered centre, Harrow Way’s site and facilities manager Steve Badby is fully qualified to deliver the training which also includes all staff first aiders.

Mr Badby said: “We are currently trialling ‘Be Ready’ with small groups of students. Once they have completed their six hours of training, which we are delivering around the students’ normal timetable, they will be awarded the Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work qualification — a great addition to their CVs.”

The Qualifications Network UK qualification, which has been developed to meet the first aid training requirements outlined by the Health and Safety Executive, includes defibrillator use, unconscious casualty management, resuscitation, choking, shock, wounds and bleeding, minor burns and seizures.

The school ultimately intends to extend the training beyond their own students and staff to include other local schools, charities, community groups and companies which support the school community.

The plan is to not only offer first aid but other ‘work ready’ courses such as fire safety.