THREE young first aiders who helped a grandmother when she fell and broke her ankle have been rewarded.
Cathy Green was accompanying her granddaughters Emily and Molly Duckworth and their friend Cameron Hawes home from Michael Primary School in March.
Cathy twisted her ankle and fell off a pavement on Station Road in Kirk Michael.
The trio knew exactly what to do thanks to skills they learned as members of St John Ambulance’s Badgers, the charity’s most junior section, which teaches first aid to five to 10-year-olds.
While Molly supported Cathy as she hobbled home, Emily and Cameron ran ahead and, when Cathy reached her house, sat her on the couch and made her put her foot up on a stool. Emily applied an ice pack to her foot while Cameron went to get help from his mum.
Cathy was taken to Noble’s Hospital, where it was discovered her ankle was broken.
Despite being laid up at home recovering, Cathy sent a lovely thank you card to Kirk Michael’s Badgers.
She said she was ‘really grateful for all the help she was given and so pleased that the youngsters had been taught first aid’. The card was accompanied by chocolate cakes for all the Badgers – with special ones for Emily, Molly and Cameron.
And last night (Monday) the three were rewarded at the Badgers’ annual awards ceremony, when they received the Corps Superintendent’s Recognition Certificate.
Cameron’s mum Rosie Hawes is the Director of Youth for John Ambulance Isle of Man and oversees the dozen Badger and Cadet (aged 10 to 18) groups, where young people learn first aid in a fun environment.
To find out how your child can join the Badgers or Cadets, call St John Ambulance headquarters on 01624 674387 or email Roseita.Hawes@sja.org.im
For further information about St John Ambulance Isle of Man as a whole or to find out how to sign up for first aid courses, volunteer or support its work via donations, ring 674387 or visit www.sja.org.uk/sja/counties/isle-of-man.aspx
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GET INVOLVED
Cadets (age 10-18)
Wednesday 7pm – 9pm, St John Ambulance Headquarters – girls only; Thursday 6.30pm – 8pm, Peel Age Concern – mixed; Thursday 6.30 pm – 8pm, St John Ambulance Headquarters – mixed; Friday 7pm – 8pm, Ramsey ATC Unit, Auldyn School – mixed; Friday 7pm – 9pm, St John Ambulance Headquarters – boys.
Badgers (aged 5-10), all mixed
Monday 6pm to 7pm, St John Ambulance Headquarters; Monday 5.30pm – 6.30pm, Michael School; Tuesday 6.30 – 7.30pm, Laxey Methodist Church; Thursday 5.30 – 6.30pm, Peel Age Concern; Friday 6pm – 7pm, Ramsey ATC Unit, Auldyn School; Saturday 10.30am – 11:30am, St John Ambulance Headquarters.