First aid disabled scheme grows

A pilot project in Denbighshire to teach people with disabilities first aid is to be rolled out across Wales, says the British Red Cross. The scheme began in north Wales last year and so far more than 250 people have gained life-saving skills. The charity has been training people with a range of physical and learning disabilities.

Jeff Collins, director of the British Red Cross in Wales, made the announcement at the Royal Welsh Show. The scheme also operates in England and Scotland and hopes to educate 5,000 people throughout the UK by 2009. The British Red Cross said the training project was funded nationally for three years, with nearly £400,000 coming from The Big Lottery Fund.

The pilot project began in September 2006, and was designed to develop a new, more flexible first aid training programme.

For instance, a person with mobility problems could help a casualty who is not breathing by giving chest compressions with their foot, instead of getting on their knees and using their hands. They may also be able to instruct a passer-by in what to do.

Mr Collins said: "We are especially excited about this project in Wales, which for this year is being piloted in north Wales. We will have trained 250 disabled people using our staff and more than 10 volunteers."