SIXTEEN schools will be tuning into the biggest ever first aid lesson, which is to be delivered by Claudia Winkleman.

The Strictly presenter is no stranger to first aid after her daughter’s Halloween costume caught fire last year leaving her requiring hospital treatment.

Matilda, then eight, could have faced further trauma had it not been for quick-thinking parents.

The mother-of-three said: “The Big First Aid Lesson is a fantastic and engaging way of teaching students the skills they may need to help keep a classmate or a family member safe in an emergency while they’re out on the playground or during the holidays.

“All schools should make teaching young people basic first aid a top priority.”

St John’s Ambulance is calling on more schools to join the Big First Aid Lesson, which takes place on June 12.

So far, the lesson will be educating more than 85,000 pupils up and down the country, already exceeding St John Ambulance’s original target of 50,000.

Schools signed up include Chidham Primary School in Chidham near Chichester, St John’s Catholic Primary School in Horsham, Bolnore Village Primary in Haywards Heath, Manor Field Primary School in Burgess Hill and Bersted Green Primary School in Bognor.

The lesson is a free, one hour, online first-aid training session filmed live and streamed directly into classrooms.

It combines first-aid training and 999 scenarios with real life stories, as well as plenty of opportunities for students to join the conversation via Google Hangouts.

Mark Sears, deputy headteacher of Bolnore Village Primary, said: “We are very excited about this opportunity to get involved.

“First aid is so important and a life skill essential to all our young people.”

The Big First Aid Lesson will teach students how to respond to emergencies, such as asthma attacks and head injuries, so they have the skills and confidence to be the difference between life and death.

The only equipment schools need in order to take part are an internet connection and a screen, such as an interactive whiteboard, for their pupils to watch in the classroom or during assembly.

Manor Field Primary School headteacher Kit Messenger said: “We are delighted that are able to participate in the big first aid lesson.

“These are essential skills that will support children in their future lives.

“We are very grateful to St John Ambulance for providing this opportunity.”

quote

Marita Edwards, schools and community training co-ordinator with St John Ambulance in the South East, said: “We’re asking teachers to commit just one hour of their timetables to our event so every student can learn how to save a life – it could be the most important lesson they ever learn.

“We’re looking forward to working with Claudia to create a fun first-aid hour so more young people can be the difference between life and death.”