This year, the TYs had the wonderful opportunity to attend First Aid classes taught by the Irish Red Cross.
20 TYs signed up for the course and attended the lessons, which were carried out over 13 weeks; this allowed the students to use the course for their Gaisce.
Over the course of these 13 weeks, the TYs learnt a myriad of useful skills that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Examples of the things they learnt include how to give CPR to adults, children, and babies; types of burns and how to treat them; how to tie two different types of arm slings; and what questions to ask if you suspect someone needs first aid and consciousness.
On the last day of the course, the TYs had to take a two-hour exam that tested their skills over the different topics they learnt about, and the facilitators were proud to announce that every student passed, making them qualified to give first aid if there is no professional available.
The students all highly recommend taking the course, as it is both convenient and useful.
Niya Teresa Thomas says, “This was an amazing experience that taught me how to save lives and built my mindset to be able to handle difficult situations such as accidents. I enjoyed being able to put my practical skills to work as I was given plenty of opportunities to test myself and my knowledge.”
Emma O’Donnell says, “This was a new experience but welcome all the same. Although they were slightly stressful, the weekly classes were educational, and I’m glad that I learnt skills that I will be able to use later in life. In the end, nothing beat the feeling of knowing I passed.”
Overall, the TY students found the course to be fun and informative, and they all value the knowledge they gained from the lessons they took part in.
By Alessandra Ghercă.