A Worcester school has joined with a first aid charity to help build a generation of young life savers across the region.

Perry Wood primary & nursery school was the first school in the West Midlands to kick off St John Ambulance’s First Aid Relay.

The project sees trainers from the charity deliver first aid training in schools and pupils at the school then have two weeks to raise enough funds for a neighbouring school to receive the same life saving training.

Perry Wood School’s 52 Year 6 pupils enjoyed a training day learning how to put casualties into the recovery position and to deal with choking, burns and bleeds.

They have raised £175 with a non-uniform day towards the cost of paying for the next school in the relay and are now looking for a school to take up the baton.

Nick Pitt, regional schools training co-ordinator for St John Ambulance in the West Midlands, said: "We are encouraging as many schools as possible to join in and help us ensure as many youngsters across the region learn first aid skills.

"Schools can raise money in any way they choose – this is all about joining together by ‘paying it forward’ for another school to benefit from potentially lifesaving training.

"At St John Ambulance we believe all young people should have the opportunity to learn first aid and we hope that this will provide schools with the perfect opportunity to help their pupils do just that.

"By helping to build a generation of life savers in Worcestershire we may be able to make the difference between a life saved and a life lost."

Tracy Kelly-Freer, Headteacher at Perry Wood School, said: "We are delighted to be the first school to launch this exciting initiative.

"We believe that first aid is an important skill, and even a basic knowledge could help our pupils to one day save a life.

"This project will enable them to learn these life saving skills, as well as having some fun to raise money to ensure that another local school can do the same."

The initiative follows research undertaken by St John Ambulance which showed nearly 58 per cent of children in the West Midlands region have no life saving knowledge at all.

The campaign will run until next July.

The charity’s trainers are gearing up to train thousands of pupils across the region, with dozens of schools already registering their interest to take part in the scheme.

Anyone interested in taking part in the First Aid Relay, can call 0121 237 3879 or email west-mids-training@sja.org.uk