New badge programme encourages lifesaving skills for Kent, Surrey, Sussex children
The campaign by Kent Surrey Sussex air ambulance hopes to give children aged 5 to 14 skills such as CPR and defibrillator awareness
Children across Kent, Surrey, and Sussex have the opportunity to engage in a new programme designed to equip them with essential lifesaving skills.
The Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) air ambulance has introduced the KSS Mission Badge, a free initiative aimed at children aged 5 to 14.
Fran Vale - senior community fundraiser - tells us about one of the skills children can pick up
"We have created these videos that run little ones, how to use CPR. So for the young, young ones, it's bringing in their teddy and using them to do CPR. And in the older ones, it's using a pillow.
So hopefully if they ever had to be in that situation, they'll feel empowered enough to be able to give CPR."
Through a series of enjoyable, age-appropriate activities, participants will gain knowledge about emergency procedures, including the basics of CPR, defibrillator awareness, aviation skills, and the significant lifesaving efforts of KSS.
The programme is divided into three age groups, ensuring that activities are appropriately tailored to Key Stage 1 (5-7 years), Key Stage 2 (7-11 years), and Key Stage 3 (11-14 years).
Fran adds why she believes it's so important to target this age range
"Quite a lot of our community and those that support us are older and I think it's so important to start inspiring the younger generation from a really young age, even from those as young as five."
Building on the success of previous initiatives like the Scouts Challenge Badge and Girlguiding Mission Badge, children will choose from five mission areas ranging from understanding the 999 emergency call process to the importance of medical research.
These engaging missions aim to inspire young people and may play a pivotal role in nurturing the next generation of lifesavers.