On the 27th and 28th of August, myself and eight other cadets completed St Johns Ambulance Youth First Aid course for the bronze first aid badge.

Over the weekend, we learned how to do a primary survey, how to do hands only CPR, how to carry out a secondary survey and put a casualty into recovery position, how to treat climatic injuries, burns and scalds, insect stings, anaphylaxis, minor and major bleeds, and embedded objects. We also learned how to approach and reassure casualties, treat for shock, and how to make use of a bystander.

After learning about all these things, we had to put our new skills into practice in an assessment where, one by one, we had to conduct a primary and secondary survey, treat an unconscious breathing casualty, then treat an unconscious non-breathing casualty. In the assessment we also had to treat a person who had a foreign object embedded in their arm.

I am glad that I took part in this course as it means that 148 (Barnsley) Squadron now has nine newly qualified youth first-aiders.

We would like to thank all the squadron staff, along with CI Green from 868 (Mirfield) Squadron, and CI Owen from 1384 (Askern) Squadron, for teaching and running this course and ensuring that we are confident with our new skills.

By Cdt C.Wallis