“First aid doesn’t just mean wrapping a bandage around a limb, it also means being able to help send a dispatch team.” And that’s what Ray and Jenny O’Reilly are teaching primary school children to do, reports ELIZABETH KOVACS.

There are 45,000 primary school students across the territory, many of whom, in a serious situation or emergency, would not be able to call triple zero (000).

“Some of the really small children don’t even know their address or phone numbers,” says Ray O’Reilly, who with wife Jenny, have been the smiling faces behind a first aid education for primary children since February.

“First aid doesn’t just mean wrapping a bandage around a limb, it also means being able to help send a dispatch team.”

During their primary school visits, Jenny and Ray, St John’s Ambulance ACT volunteers for five years, tackle topics from calling 000 and being able to remember an address, all the way to conducting CPR and administering aid for snake bites. 

They have presented lessons to more than 15,000 students to date.

“We have little certificates for the children to bring home to encourage families to have these conversations,” says Jenny. 

“On the back, children have to fill out their important information and important people.”

The certificates are designed to be stuck on a fridge or shelf at the child’s eye level so that in an emergency they can recite important details such as family names, numbers, relationships and an address. 

St John Ambulance ACT CEO, Martin Fisk, says the goal is to make it to 100 per cent confidence rates for children to call 000. 

“If even one child is brave and confident enough to call 000 and/or administer first aid in the region, then we consider that a success,” he says. 

Ray says: “The kids get split up into three different year groups and we haven’t had a single problem with rowdiness or low levels of engagement, they’re locked in.”

The first thing they talk to the children about is consent.

“It’s such an important topic for young people to understand,” says Jenny. 

“You need to ask someone before you administer first aid, even during demonstrations, we ask the kids if they are comfortable being bandaged up.

“The teachers participate too, and the kids have such a great time counting when the teachers get up for their turn to do CPR.

“It’s almost like a refresher course for them.” 

At the end of each session, each child is given a bandage, which Ray says is the highlight of the day for them. 

“We see kids walking out with bandages around their heads, arms and legs,” he says. 

“Often the teachers end up looking like mummies!

“They really enjoy it, and so do we.” 

In fact, Ray and Jenny say this has been their favourite work to do. 

“Out of all the work we’ve done with St John’s, from night shifts to call outs, this is the most rewarding,” says Jenny. 

Married for more than 45 years, Jenny and Ray work seamlessly together, something Martin says is important for volunteers. 

“All of our school first-aid volunteers go in pairs,” he says. 

“They need to be able to communicate well together. 

“We are on the lookout for more volunteers, preferably active retirees who have time during their weeks to visit schools during school hours.” 

Volunteers receive training in community education and first aid, and are required to have a Working with Vulnerable People card. 

“When people see our green uniforms, they feel safe, and even though we are just a small part of a bigger picture, it’s so important,” says Jenny. 

“We are all just community members giving back to the community.” 

Volunteering interest can be registered at visit stjohnact.org.au or call 6282 2399.