ORA students at SPC on the Medical Sciences course participated in a practical workshop this week as they learnt how to perform first aid.

Science of Organs

The class began with an informative lesson on the function of different organs and the ways in which they can be damaged in accidents. This gave students a wider understanding of the situations in which certain types of first aid, like CPR, should be administered.

The lesson had a practical side too, as pupils were given stethoscopes to find the heartbeat of their friends. The ability to locate the heart is an essential element of learning successful first aid and gave students a fun activity to complete in pairs.

First Aid Practical

Equipped with methodological knowledge, pupils ventured outside to try a series of first aid techniques on each other and on CPR dummies.

It was tense as the dummy-victim was rushed in, suffering from a severe heart attack and requiring immediate CPR. Confident students stepped forward and performed the life-saving act, placing their hands in the correct place and pumping the chest at the intervals they had been taught earlier.

For some, the CPR wasn’t enough, and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation was required. Calmness aided those who were faced with difficult patients, enabling them to successfully administer first aid and save dummy lives.

As well as using dummies, the class taught students how to properly apply bandages to wounds. Many enjoyed applying their newfound knowledge to imaginary head wounds that suddenly covered their friends, needing large bandages to stop the fake bleeding. Learning how to put their friends into the recovery position was another activity that amused students, as they played unconscious and were moved around into a safe position.

It was great that the pupils enjoyed the practical side of the workshop and, hopefully, the knowledge they gained could save lives in the future.

The Frankenstein Project

A spooky workshop awaited some this week as they joined the Frankenstein Project, a class where students used materials to construct a functioning ‘human’.

Balloons, pens and straws aided pupils in the task as they created lungs and arteries for their human. Combining their knowledge of the human body with their imagination was a challenge, but the engagement and innovation showed by the students was impressive.

From designing body parts on paper to colouring balloons, the monsters – I mean humans! – quickly came to life and demonstrated functioning capabilities.

ORA students at SPC have an exciting chance to go punting down the river today in Oxford and we can’t wait to see all the photos. Check back soon to enjoy them with us.