Singapore Red Cross and 3M Nexcare™ launch first aid outreach to 10,000 primary school students by end 2016 in line with SRC’s aim to equip every household with a first-aider

Singapore, 21 September 2015 – In commemoration with World First Aid Day, the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) and 3M Nexcare™ launched their inaugural outreach program for primary school children, with the aim of nurturing young life savers and prepare school-going children to be one step ahead during times of emergencies. Through an engaging first aid skit and first-hand activities, more than 180 primary and secondary school students from various schools learnt the importance of first aid, woundcare and home safety at a fun-filled event held at Bedok Community Centre on Sunday morning, September 20.

The 45-minute interactive skit, titled Bandage Brothers, explained the importance of a first aid kit, debunked myths of dos and don’ts with regard to caring for common injuries, and provided advice on home safety, all through the use of humour and engaging activities. Selected students from the audience were also given the chance to learn how to apply a bandage properly and what one has to do or not do with a wound. Bandage Brothers is specially commissioned by the SRC for this outreach programme, with the belief that first aid should be accessible to all – especially the young.

In his speech, SRC’s Chairman, Mr Tee Tua Ba, said: “Learning first aid is the cornerstone of building an empowered, resilient community, whilst the act of giving first aid speaks of a matured society where people care for one another. To achieve the national goal of one first aider in every home, we need to start from inspiring the children and youth, future pillars of society, to learn first aid and embrace first aid learning as a way of life.”

After the launch of skit, volunteers distributed 100 first aid kits to households with elderly in the vicinity. This is part of SRC’s Community Led Action REsilience (CLARE) programme, which mobilises neighbourhood-based volunteers to provide first response, first aid, eldercare and befriending service to vulnerable groups in their community.

The first-of-its-kind outreach programme – which includes the skit and other interactive activities – will travel to primary schools across Singapore, starting with Fairfield Methodist Primary School from September 22 onwards. The target is to visit at least 12 schools per year, reaching out to 10,000 children in the first year. All participants of the programme will be presented with an activity booklet and a special SG50 pack of Nexcare bandages. The school lineup after the initial launch includes River Valley Primary School, Corporation Primary School, and Concord Primary School.

“We are very pleased to be able to launch this programme with our strategic partner 3M Nexcare™. Hopefully, through our collective effort, we can empower school-going children with first aid skills that can stand them in good stead to handle emergencies in life,” he added.

Ms Renee Chua, General Manager of 3M Consumer Business Group, said: "For more than 50 years, 3M has been a leader in innovative healthcare products. At 3M Nexcare™, we are all about developing quality first aid products for a family’s skin healing needs which is why we are happy to continue our collaboration with the Singapore Red Cross through today’s launch as it allows us to thank those who give of their time to administer first aid and also to encourage young students to get involved by learning how first aid can save lives. This is also in line with our annual global initiative – Nexcare Give, where the theme this year is 'Creating a Culture of Giving.'"

This is the second collaboration between Singapore Red Cross and 3M Nexcare™. Last year, SRC and 3M jointly produced first aid booklets that included basic first aid tips and simple steps to common injuries.

Primary schools interested in the outreach programme for their students can contact SRC at vincent.toh@redcross.sg. They can also sign up for a 3-hour Young First Aid course/2-hour Junior First Aid by the Singapore Red Cross Academy via academy@redcross.sg