First Aid fever hit Perth High School on the first weekend in March as 45 pupils volunteered to give up their time to take part in some very useful training. Whilst it was aimed at preparing them to cope with potential First Aid emergencies when on the Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions this summer, everyone recognised that what they had learnt could be applied to situations that could happen anywhere and at anytime.

The presenters covered a vast amount of material through a combination of role play, slides, video, explanation, demonstration and practical challenges. By the end, everyone knew, and could apply, the emergency routine of "Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and Circulation". All had placed their partner into the life saving recovery position and all had taken the opportunity to bandage their helpless friends!

Descriptions of how to extract ticks from your flesh proved to cause some groans from the audience but the sight of some truly horrendous blisters succeeded in brutal fashion to get this important message across - "prevention is better than cure".

All manner of other situations were covered including coping with sprains, burns, scalds, bites, stings, cuts, heat exhaustion, sunburn, and exposure.

The training, though tiring, was a great success judging by the pupil responses to it. They now feel more able to help others in an emergency and know their friends are there to help them should the situation arise.