9:30pm Wednesday 10th March 2010
By Kate Turner
BURNLEY-based driving school has become the first in the country to offer free first aid lessons to pupils.
Lewis Driving School has teamed up with St John Ambulance to try and spread the message of the importance of first aid.
The six hour course, which is specifically designed to teach roadside first aid, includes how to treat shock, to deal with cuts and how to put casualties in the recovery position.
Lewis Reeve, 24, owner of Lewis Driving School said: “The idea came about because one of my pupils, Jonathan Taylor is a first aid trainer in the St John Ambulance.
“We were talking about first aid and he suggested offering the course to my students.
“When he looked into it he realised that it had never been done before.
“I feel quite strongly about people being first aid trained. There are so many accidents on the roads so it seemed to make sense to try and train people about how to cope in an accident situation.
”I was first aid trained when I was younger and have recently been re-trained.
“It is really important that drivers know basic first aid and I’m hoping that more people, especially young drivers will take it up.”
The first course was run last month and this month 20 students are going to take part in the training.
A DSA spokesperson said: “Learning emergency first aid from a qualified organisation such as St John Ambulance is a valuable skill and it could help to save a life.
“We are happy to see that young drivers are being offered the opportunity to gain these important skills.”
The course, which normally costs over a hundred pounds is members of St John Ambulance and to all Lewis’ pupils.
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