Over a weekend earlier this year an intensive Youth First Aid (YFA) Course was run at the Loke Road Headquarters of the King’s Lynn Air Cadets.
Twelve of 42F (King’s Lynn) Squadron’s cadets spent the two days under instruction that would, if the course was passed, qualify them for the Royal Air Force Air Cadets’ (RAFAC) Bronze First Aid Badge.
The course instructor was the Squadron’s Sergeant Alex Stapleton, RAFAC, who tutored the varied syllabus whereby the cadets learnt about a variety of conditions and injuries which First Aiders might encounter, such as severe allergic reactions, shock, hypothermia and burns.
On the Sunday afternoon the cadets were individually assessed by the Squadron’s Commanding Officer, Flight Lieutenant Pauline Petch and RAFAC Civilian Instructor Jo Manners from 231 (Norwich) Squadron. These assessments included dealing with an unconscious casualty who had stopped breathing, and a conscious casualty with a substantial bleed. The candidates were also asked follow-up questions after their assessments to prove their theoretical knowledge of the syllabus, which both assessors were very impressed with.
All twelve cadets successfully passed their assessments and are now qualified in Youth First Aid. They will hold that qualification for three years before the need for re-training. They will now be taking a more hands-on role at the squadron, assisting Sergeant Stapleton, in the training of other cadets in first aid, helping with casualty simulation and planning scenarios to Youth First Aid standard.
On the evening of Monday 15th April during his official visit to the Squadron, Borough Mayor, Councillor Nick Daubney was privileged to be able to present ten of those awards to those cadets present.
Having been presented with their YFA certificates the cadets can now wear their RAFAC bronze First Aid badge on their brassards. The successful twelve were, rear row L to R Cadets Runyard, Naish, Bramham, and Vonk. Front row L to R Cadets Page, Baskaran, Sanderson, Wales, Fowler and Vilvaraja. The two other cadets gaining the award were cadets Broad and Daniels.