The University of Plymouth First Aid Society (UP:FA) supports the St John Ambulance's vision that 'no one should die in a situation where basic first aid could have saved them'. Each year 29,000 people die from heart attacks, 900 people choke to death and thousands more die in situations where first aid could have been the difference between a life lost and a life saved. On the 19th July 2018 the British government brought forward draft legislation stating that Primary school children would be taught basic first aid, like dealing with head injuries and calling the emergency services, while those in Secondary school would be taught life-saving skills such as CPR and the use of defibrillators. This decision was made after members of the public attempted to help victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombings but lacked the knowledge of First Aid to do so. As a society, we wholeheartedly support this decision and hope that, in teaching you basic first aid, you too could make a difference in somebody else's life. University of Plymouth First Aid Society aims to educate and promote first aid skills as well as helping to give the confidence to use them in real life. We provide informal evenings to all members in addition to working alongside the University's St John Ambulance unit who provide first aid cover at events across our city and the UK.
We meet every Tuesday evening from 19:00 to 21:00 to learn and develop valuable skills from each other, special guests and healthcare professionals. We won Society of the Year in 2013, Best Project in 2016, Gold Icons in 2017 and our members continue to collect a variety of external and internal awards year after year.
At our meetings, we learn skills, develop them, and become more confident in using them, something you can't get from a 3 day First Aid at work course. We use active scenario based learning to put the skills into practice, in order to not only develop knowledge but also develop confidence so you're ready to apply your skills in real life situations. Many of our members, past and present, have used the skills they learn in our meetings to become 'Everyday Heroes' and have saved lives at home, work, university, or out and around Plymouth. These skills are great to add to your CV, and you can add Volunteering hours to work towards your Plymouth Award.
When: Every Tuesday, 18:45 for a 19:00 start.
Where: Babbage 404