14 September 2010
A leading doctor at Epsom and St Helier hospitals is urging local young people to take up first aid courses, after new figures show that the majority of children aged 11 - 16 have had to cope with an emergency situation.
The report, which was published today (13 September) by the British Red Cross, shows that almost nine out of ten young teens (89%) have had to deal with a crisis, including:
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One in seven (14%) 11 -16 year olds have been in an emergency situation as a result of a friend drinking too much alcohol;
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one in four has had to cope with someone having an asthma attack (27%);
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one in three has dealt with a head injury (33%);
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one in five has to help someone who is choking (18%);
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one in 10 has had to cope with someone having an epileptic fit (9%).
Unfortunately, when asked what actions they took in response to these situations, 44% said they panicked and 46% said they didn’t know what to do.
The Trust’s Deputy Medical Director and consultant paediatrician, Dr Ruth Charlton, said: "Sadly, it’s true that young people can find themselves in difficult and even life-threatening situations, but there are simple steps you can take to make sure that you can help those around you, should they fall into danger.
"Getting some basic, free first aid could make a dramatic difference in a lot of common situations - either through direct intervention, in the case of choking, or by recognising danger signs, such as the start of an asthma attack, and caring for someone until an ambulance arrives."
Dr Charlton added: "The misuse of alcohol by young people is extremely worrying. On average, we see six or seven people aged 11 - 16 in our A&E departments because of alcohol-related conditions every single month.
"We would hope that local young people take the time to find out more about basic first aid courses. It could be the difference between life or death."
