Teenagers' first aid skills come out tops

Chloe Cranmer and Jay Hughes, both 15, were crowned winners of the North East region, St John Ambulance First Aid Competition.

The event was held at the Lifewise Centre and saw Thrybergh Academy student Chloe and Aston Comprehensive student Jay pitted against six teams.

St John Ambulance Rotherham unit leader, Rowena Clarkson, said Chloe and Jay had finished runners-up at the qualifying west district event in April and had been working hard to try to take first prize this time.

The teenagers had to complete an individual eight-minute assessment on “casualties” who had suffered burns and bleeding injuries.

Chloe and Jay then had to work together on a six-minute team test with “patients” who had suffered a seizure, were unconscious and had potential cervical spine.

Chloe has been a St John cadet for two-and-a-half years and has worked her way up to being corporal (team leader) and a peer educator, which involves training other young people in first aid.

“Jay has been with us for 12 months, so he’s fairly new, but has picked it all up very well,” she said.

“Chloe has been out at a lot of events and has been at Rotherham United matches for the past two-and-a-half seasons.”

Rowena said the competition tests put the cadets under a lot of pressure as they had a short time frame to assess the situation and the casualties.

Friends and family were able to watch the competition and Rowena said the pair were ecstatic to be crowned winners.

They will now go on to represent the region at the national finals in October.

“We are all very proud of them and of the hard work they have put in over the last few months,” she said.

“We wish them well at the finals.”