SIX primary school pupils are looking forward to being the stars of the UK’s biggest first aid lesson when it gets broadcast nationwide next week.

A group of Year 4 pupils at Aldersbrook Primary School in Harpenden Road have been chosen to take part in St John’s Ambulance Big First Aid Lesson Live next Friday (June 17).

The live online life-saving lesson will be led by TV doctor and CBeebies star Dr Ranj Singh who will be demonstrating how to deal with all manner of medical emergencies, from chest pains to insect bites.

Aldersbrook parent support advisor Dean Gibson, who has been a first aider for 15 years, suggested the children’s involvement in the virtual workshop when he spoke to the ambulance charity about first aid sessions in school.

He said: “I have been running first aid sessions for parents at the school for the last three years, but unfortunately funding cuts have meant our organisers British Red Cross were no longer able to run them.

“So when I approached St John’s Ambulance about it, they suggested the first aid lesson live and I said yes straight away.

“The children are really looking forward to it – every time I pass one of them in the playground they can’t stop talking about it.”

Mr Gibson is keen for other schools in Redbridge to sign up and watch the first aid lesson when it is streamed live from St John Ambulance’s London recording studios next Friday afternoon.

He said: “We believe first aid is a life skill that everyone can and should learn.

“About four years ago I was at a party and a man I didn’t know started choking on some food.

“He was almost twice the size of me and my first thought was I wouldn’t be able to help him because he was so much bigger than me.

“When his face started changing colour I knew I had to something urgently so I gave him back slaps and abdominal thrusts until his airway cleared – I was amazed at how quickly it worked.”

Host Dr Ranj said is very excited to be taking over from last year’s host Claudia Winkleman.

He added: “Being able to immediately help someone, a family member, classmate, neighbour or a stranger, can be live saving.

“You don’t have to be a medic like me to learn first aid or use it, so I’m excited to be hosting, as I know the lesson will help enrich the next generation with the confidence and knowledge to save a life.”

Any school who wants to take part in the Big First Aid Lesson Live can do so by signing up online.

www.sja.org.uk/bigfirstaidlesson