250 students at a Redditch school have been taught essential life-saving skills as part of a training scheme ran by St John Ambulance.

The 13 and 14 year olds, in Year 9, at Trinity High School received hands on practical training in CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation- the chest compressions used to restart a heart.

This is the first year the school has invited St John Ambulance to teach the skills to pupils, but staff are hoping to make it a regular event.

Teacher Caroline Field, who organised the training last month, said: “We have recently changed our PSE curriculum to make it more interesting and relevant to our pupils.

“As part of this reshuffle, we are giving students the opportunity to take part in advanced learning days such as the first aid training event we organised with St John Ambulance.

“We believe that first aid is an important skill and even a basic knowledge could help our students to one day save a life.

“As well as having an enjoyable day where they could learn something that they might need to use in their everyday lives, our pupils are also achieved a qualification that they can put on college applications.”

Research carried out by St John Ambulance shows that seven out of ten students wouldn’t know what to do if someone they knew was injured.

Nick Pitt, regional schools training co-ordinator for St John Ambulance in the West Midlands, encouraged other schools in the area to follow the example of Trinity High School.

“This is the next generation of first aiders who will go out into our communities, workplaces and in their own homes with the skills to save a life.”

For more information on training courses call 0121 237 3879, email west-mids-training@sja.org.uk or visit www.sja.org.uk.