'Hero' boy backs first aid in schools campaign

     A young boy who helped save his mother's life is backing a call for basic first aid to be taught in all primary schools. Cayden Mcauley, from Glasgow, was six years old when he used basic training he had been given to aid his mum Lyndsey Baxter after she collapsed in the street. Two years on, he is supporting a public petition from St Andrew's First Aid. His mum said she owes her "hero" son Cayden her life following his actions. Ms Baxter suffers from chronic heart failure and regularly attends hospital appointments. It was at these appointments that Cayden learned some basic first aid from the nurses, so when his mum collapsed while out shopping with him in April 2016 he knew what to do. The six-year-old managed to sit her up against a wall then used his jacket to keep her warm. He then unlocked her phone and sought help from a passing taxi driver to call an ambulance.

     Cayden now wants other children to learn first aid skills "so that they could help other people or members of their family". He said: "With mum's condition, it is really important to me to know what to do if something happens to her. "I feel a lot more confident having the first aid skills that I have learned." Ms Baxter said: "If it wasn't for his actions and calm approach in knowing what to do, it could have been a very different ending. "To me, St Andrew's First Aid's petition is both really positive and really important. "It would be a great thing if younger children across Scotland had the opportunity to learn vital first aid skills, which could help save a life."

     The petition is calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish government to:

• Ensure that all primary schools in Scotland incorporate basic first aid as an integral part of their curriculum
• Provide funding in order to develop high quality teaching materials on what to do in common emergencies
• Establish training and support for teachers to enable them to deliver these skills.
• Have interactive first aid workshops.

     Stuart Callison, chief executive of St Andrew's First Aid, said: "Cayden is a shining example of how very young children have the capacity and ability to learn and deliver first aid. "Whilst any incident when it happens can feel overwhelming, children who are equipped with even basic first aid knowledge have time and time again demonstrated that they can make a real difference and potentially save someone's life." Since the incident in 2016, Cayden has learned cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). He and his mum have urged people to sign the petition, which is open until 6 December.

QUESTION 1: [2 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a) Cayden had never had any first aid training.
b) It is part of Ms Baxter’s routine to go to hospital.
c) Ms Baxter thinks she might have died if her son hadn’t helped her.
d) Children with basic first aid training have not proved to be able to save anybody’s life.

QUESTION 2: [2 POINTS] Answer the following questions in your own words according to the text.

a) Describe the petition in your own words.
b) What is Stuart Callison’s opinion about Teaching first aid to children?

QUESTION 3: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the definitions given.

a) To help, assist (paragraph 1)
b) Unsuccessful attempt (paragraph 1)
c) To fall down (paragraph 1)
d) Feeling certain, assured (paragraph 2)
e) Financing (paragraph 3)

QUESTION 4: [1,5 POINTS] Choose the correct option, a, b, c, or d for each question and COPY the sentences onto your answer sheet.

1. His mum collapsed ...

a) during she was doing the shopping.

b) after she had done the shopping.

c) at the time she was doing the shopping.

d) before she had done the shopping.

2. Cayden wants other children to learn fisrt aid skills...

a) in order to be able to help people.

b) for to help people.

c) so that to help people.

d) so to help people.

3. If Cayden hadn’t had any first aid training...

a) he would have been able to help his mum.

b) he wouldn’t have been able to help his mum.

c) he would help his mum.

d) he wouldn’t help his mum.

QUESTION 5: [3 POINTS] Write a short essay (about 120-150 words) on the following topic:

Do you think First Aid Training should be included in our schools’ curriculum? Give reasons.

KEY

a) False. Cayden Mcauley, from Glasgow, was six years old when he used basic training he had been given to aid his mum Lyndsey Baxter after she collapsed in the street.

b) True. Ms Baxter suffers from chronic heart failure and regularly attends hospital appointments.

c) True. Ms Baxter said: "If it wasn't for his actions and calm approach in knowing what to do, it could have been a very different ending.

d) False. Children who are equipped with even basic first aid knowledge have time and time again demonstrated that they can make a real difference and potentially save someone's life."

2. a) The petition is for the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish government to:

• Incorporate basic first aid in the curriculum of all Scottish primary schools.
• Invest money on good quality teaching materials for acting in common emergencies.
• Training teachers on these skills.
• Do interactive first aid workshop.

b) In his opinion, young children have both capacity and skill to learn and give first aid. It has been proved that children who have this training can act in case or an incident and could possibly save lives.

3. a) to aid / aid b) failure c) collapsed/ to collapse / collapse d) confident e) funding

4.

1-c) at the time she was doing the shopping.

2-a) in order to be able to help people.

3-b) he wouldn’t have been able to help his mum.