On Monday, students at the Junior School transformed into mini medics. From air ambulances to first aid, students learned all about what first responders do and how they too can help, all in support of The Abbey’s Charity of the Year for 2026-27, CLEFT.
Students got to learn about the pivotal role air ambulances play, and how they have evolved from merely a mode of transport to a way to “bring the hospital to the patient”, as one volunteer from Thames Valley Air Ambulance explained.
Steph, one of The Abbey’s school nurses, delivered an informative session to students on first aid. Students were posed with the dilemma of what steps to take in a medical emergency. Steph taught students two key approaches: ‘DRC’ (Danger, Response and Catastrophic bleeding) and ABCD (Airway, Breathing, Circulation, and Defibrillation or Disability), core frameworks for assessing and treating life-threatening emergencies.
Alongside this, students also participated in a first aid workshop. In pairs, students role played how to conduct the recovery position and the Heimlich manoeuvre wearing Heimlich training vests.
A Community First Responder showcased their equipment kit and what each instrument is used for; students were especially fascinated to learn that clingfilm is among the many gadgets first responders carry, used as a temporary dressing for burns!
Whilst outside, students got the chance to see inside a Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV). Alongside the tour, students were taught about the key role RRVs play in responding to emergencies and were shown equipment such as a LUCAS device for CPR.
Pet first aid was especially popular, where students learned to how to recognise the signs of a pet in pain, how to check a dog’s pulse and carried out CPR on CasPeR the CPR Dog.
Other activities of the day included classroom activities where students conducted scientific experiments to evaluate the spread of germs, used stethoscopes and did some hospital role play.
It was a highly educational and exciting day for all students, who got to learn what to do in a medical emergency and about the incredible work that the air ambulance service and first responders do, all whilst raising money for CLEFT. Bahar in Lower III particularly found the day “creative and exciting” whilst Janki liked that the activities were “practical”.
The day concluded with an assembly where students were encouraged to reflect on everything they had learned. Junior School Head, Mrs Newton, came back to the key question she posed at the start of the day: if you witness a medical emergency, “what should you do?”.
Mrs Newton also reflected on the day – “Junior School Mini Medics Day is about so much more than learning life-saving skills. It is about nurturing confident, compassionate young people who are ready to care for and support others, including our animals. With so many aspiring medics among our students, it is wonderful to see our girls turning their passion for healthcare into a genuine commitment to helping those around them”.
After reflections, Junior School’s mini medics left feeling like prepared members of the community and were inspired by the vital work medics do, whilst raising money for CLEFT.
