For the past six years, the Cameroon Red Cross (CRC) has put its commitment to young people into action by imbuing them from an early age with basic first-aid techniques, raising awareness at an early age about how to respond in emergency situations.
This year, more than 150 children and teenagers benefited from these hands-on first-aid sessions, which are designed to instill knowledge and inspire the confidence needed for young people to act in the face of a crisis.
One of those children was Mathis, aged 10. “It was so enriching,” he says. “I learned a lot about first aid. Thank you to the Red Cross and to my parents for enrolling me”.
During a course of sessions that lasted two months, Mathis learned simple but essential first-aid techniques that he could use in the event of a domestic accident, a fall, or a medical emergency.
Two young children take part in a first-aid learning session organised by the Cameroon Red Cross.
Photo: Cameroon Red Cross Society
Unlike traditional first-aid training, which often includes technical or medical information, these sessions aim to anchor knowledge and instil reflexes in a way that is adapted to young people and can be built as the child grows. The aim is to familiarize them with first-aid techniques without overloading them with technical information.
This pedagogical approach enables children to understand and retain essential gestures such as the lateral safety position, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and stopping a hemorrhage (see the pictures above). In a country where domestic accidents, natural disasters and everyday incidents are commonplace, knowing how to react quickly can make all the difference.
And even if the young people are not trained to intervene in a professional manner, this approach gives them a solid basis for acting appropriately before help arrives.
Simple gestures for critical situations
At the heart of the programme, young participants are taught several essential skills. These include emergency extrication, the Heimlich method for choking, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and haemorrhage management. These gestures, although they may seem simple, are of crucial importance when an emergency arises.
“Our learning methods combine fun and seriousness to keep children captivated,” says André Nicolas, head of the Red Cross youth service. “They pay attention and take the lessons seriously. We very often receive feedback from parents explaining that the children proudly show them what they have learnt with us.
"The fun aspect of these sessions is essential to capture the attention of the youngest children while teaching them skills that could one day save lives.”
Building a more resilient society
Teaching first-aid to young people is also part of a long-term vision.
“In addition to this initiative, we have set up Red Cross brigades in schools, secondary schools and even colleges, so that the youngest children are equipped and ready to perform first aid when the need arises,” explains Mr Ayissi, National Director of Disaster Management at the CRC.
“By familiarizing children with life-saving techniques from an early age, we know that we are whetting their appetite for first aid”, and the Cameroon Red Cross is helping to build a more resilient and supportive society, he says.
Every young person trained in first aid, therefore, becomes an essential link in the chain of intervention in the event of a crisis. This approach not only helps to raise children's awareness, but also has a positive influence on those around them, particularly their families and friends. By sharing what they learn, young people help to spread the culture of first aid within their community.
Learn more about the IFRC's approach to first aid: