A new first-aid manual aimed at children may be a life-saver in more ways than one.
The manual, called the Kids First Aid Book, was launched at Helicopters Otago in Mosgiel last Thursday.
The manual is the initiative of Workplace First Aid Training managing director Phil Hudson, nicknamed First Aid Phil, who has been inundated with requests for first-aid training at schools
‘‘It got to the stage where I was having three, four, five schools calling me all at the same time,’’ he said.
‘‘I couldn’t be where everyone wanted me.
‘‘I thought how would I deliver a first-aid course and not be there, and I thought of my nickname and turned it into a comic book.’’
The manual delivered important first-aid information in a simplistic, comic format.
The plan was for schools to buy the manual and use it to teach their pupils first aid without the need for Mr Hudson’s attendance, he said.
Schools would give a gold coin for each copy of the manual or what they could afford.
The proceeds would be donated to the rescue helicopter trust in the area where the manuals were bought.
East Taieri School got the ball rolling by buying 30 manuals following its launch.
The manual also contained information from Civil Defence, which made sense following the earthquakes which struck Christchurch and Kaikoura in recent years.
‘‘If we can pass on my knowledge of first aid to these kids and pass on Civil Defence’s knowledge of what to do in these emergencies, and then pass on the money raised to the rescue helicopter, it all makes sense,’’ Mr Hudson said.
The cost of producing the book would be covered by Civil Defence.
Helicopters Otago chief executive Graeme Gale praised the initiative.
‘‘The initiative Phil’s doing and the way it’s being accepted by all of the training institutions, and especially the schools, is just fantastic,’’ he said.
‘‘Any teacher could teach it, as long as they have the book there and they a child there, which is fantastic.’’
High-level paramedics involved with the Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust had looked at the information in the manual and thought it was ‘‘extremely good’’, he said.
‘‘The booklet is fantastic for our schools, our young people, even older people and, I think, it could potentially save someone’s life,’’ he said.
The money going towards rescue helicopter trusts topped it all off.
‘‘It is such a challenge [meeting the costs of operating the rescue helicopter],’’ he said.
‘‘They are always grateful for any donations that come in.’’
