St John Ambulance young badger shares life saving skills with her class

Poppy, who is a member of the St John Ambulance Badger Sett in Edlington, Doncaster, is currently working towards her Helpful Badger Badge. As part of the challenge, young Badgers are encouraged to share the first aid skills they have learned with family and friends.

Poppy wanted to help other children learn first aid skills and wanted to teach her whole class some essential life‑saving skills. With support from her teacher, she planned and delivered a practical first aid session covering hands‑only CPR, treating minor bleeds, and managing major bleeds.

During her demonstration, Poppy showed classmates how to correctly apply a plaster and how to use a sterile dressing. She also taught her peers how to perform hands‑only CPR using teddy bears, guiding and encouraging them as they practised the technique for themselves.

Poppy’s teacher praised her confidence, knowledge, and willingness to share what she had learned, adding that her enthusiasm had inspired the whole class.

Julie Slyde (youth lead, Doncaster and Barnsley) said:

“We are very proud of Poppy and the confidence she has shown in standing up in front of 30 of her classmates to not only teach the skills but also support them as they practised CPR. St John Badgers is not only about learning the skills, but also developing the confidence to pass this information on.”

Poppy’s mum also spoke of how proud she is of her daughter and everything she has achieved.

St John Badgers is a programme for children aged 5 to 10 years old, offering a wide range of fun, educational subjects and badges, all contributing towards their ultimate award—the Super Badger.

Doncaster currently has two Badger Setts, based in Edlington and Bentley, and both are actively welcoming new young members to join their units.

Anyone interested in learning more or enquiring about joining can email: [email protected]