Civil Defence Day

In the picture, members of the public are learning emergency skills at a Civil Defence event. One group is practising CPR on a training manikin while another is being shown how to use a fire extinguisher. SCDF officers in uniform are guiding them and demonstrating the correct steps. What I also noticed is that both children and adults are taking part, so these skills are being taught to whole families together.

I learnt basic first aid during a school programme last year, where we practised bandaging and putting someone in the recovery position. I remember being surprised at how firmly you have to press to stop bleeding, because in my head I imagined it would be gentle. A few months later, my younger brother fell off his bicycle and grazed his knee badly, and I was able to clean it and bandage it before my mother came home. I felt useful instead of panicking, which was a good feeling.

Yes, I strongly feel every student should learn it. In an emergency, the first few minutes matter most, and the person nearest to the victim is usually not a doctor but an ordinary passer-by. Knowing what to do means you can help instead of standing frozen, and even simple things like calling 995 clearly and applying pressure to a wound can save a life. Most importantly, once you have learnt it, you carry it with you for the rest of your life, which is more than can be said for most lessons.