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Posted On: 4th Mar 2015
Fixer Bethany Watson
Fixer Gina Thomas
Bethany during the broadcast shoot
Concerned about the time it can take emergency services to reach those living in rural communities, Bethany Watson and Gina Thomas think more people learning first aid could save lives.
Their story was shown on ITV News Tyne Tees on Wednesday 11th March.
Sixteen-year-olds Bethany and Gina, who are from Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria and Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales, say it takes them an hour to get to their nearest hospitals.
They feel that equipping young people with basic first aid training would allow them to play an active and helpful role in the case of an emergency.
‘I’ve seen how important first aiders can be after they helped my dad and grandmother,' explains Bethany.
‘It was reassuring to have somebody there saying everything would be okay.
‘This is crucial in isolated areas like ours where the hospitals are quite far away.
‘Many people don't consider first aid until they’re in a situation where they need it. So it’s important we encourage more to learn, which is what we aim to do.’
In the broadcast piece, the pair take part in a training exercise where they’re taught how to perform CPR.
‘Even something as simple as knowing what the recovery position is can make all the difference,’ Gina says.
‘Those moments before an ambulance arrives could be crucial.’
With Fixers, Bethany and Gina are working on a campaign to encourage others their age to enrol on first aid courses.
Bethany adds: ‘The sessions are really useful and teach you how to stay calm under pressure.
‘You never know when having a little bit of knowledge may come in handy.
‘What if you’re able to save someone’s life? There’s nothing better than that.’
Sandy Campbell and his team are calling for more support for those
living in rural communities. Watch their Fixers film.
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Rural First Aid Story On ITV
