An inspiring Angus teenager is taking steps to become a leader in first aid training.
Sophia Parsons may only be 15-years-old, but her extensive first aid knowledge has equipped her with the skills to teach the next generation of lifesavers.
She joined St Andrew’s First Aid as a cadet over four years ago and is set to graduate in the coming months.
The experience she has picked up will then but put to good use, as she joins the Adult Company in Arbroath.
But Sophia has already become a mentor to the young learners as she helps local youngsters in Arbroath learn how to perform CPR in the event of cardiac arrest and how to deal with burns.
The top tip for educating children in first aid is to adapt lessons to their ability, according to Sophia.
But the majority of young people across the country are not attending organisations like St Andrew’s First Aid.
Scottish schools are able to pick and choose if and when children learn first aid, and The Courier revealed earlier in the week that thousands of school children in Tayside were missing out on training in schools.
In order to create an army of lifesavers, Sophia says we must take the action into schools.
Sophia said: “I think everyone should know a basic knowledge of first aid, even just for day-to-day life.
“Learning first aid for the first time was a bit daunting but as you progress it does get easier.”
