Teenager helps others master first aid skills

Jack Randall practises his first aid skills on Red Cross Northland community services' manager Nancy Kareroa-Yorke. Photo / John Stone

Jack Randall may be only 14, but his commitment to learning the intricacies of first aid through Red Cross Northland is unwavering.

The Year 9 student at Whangarei Boys' High School spends an hour a week making first aid packs and other administration duties at the Red Cross office on Bank St as part of his Duke of Edinburgh award.

The award allows young people to participate in an exciting, flexible and individually-tailored programme to build skills, identity and self-esteem.

Randall talked to the Northern Advocate about his volunteer work ahead of World First Aid Day on Saturday.

No public events have been planned by Red Cross Northland but the international humanitarian organisation is urging Kiwis to learn first aid skills.

It aims to train one person in every house in the country in first aid to enable him or her to respond to emergencies quickly and safely.

Randall started his weekly volunteering at Red Cross in July.

"I like doing first aid training, helping people and volunteering in my community. I've also been helping out at Red Cross team exercises as an observer and runner at first aid events, and or a [mock] casualty for the past two years," he said.

His family is no stranger to volunteering for Red Cross. Mum Victoria Randall has been volunteering for Red Cross for more than five years and was deployed during the Christchurch earthquake in 2010 and again with the Whanganui floods in 2015.

His sister and step-siblings have also participated in mock first aid training exercises.

Red Cross Northland community services' manager Nancy Kareroa-Yorke said Randall did an amazing job and it was great to have young people contribute to by volunteering.

"We've been running free first aid courses 'People Savers' for primary and intermediate school students across Northland since 2012 and have trained almost 6500 students through this community programme and a further 2000 through our Save a Mate [SAM] course - all for free."