First Aid Introduction

Overview

This 45-minute lesson is Lesson 1 of 6 in the unit First Aid Fundamentals. It focuses on helping Year 3 students (aged 7–8) understand what first aid is, why it is important, and recognise situations where it might be needed. The session aligns with the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education programme of study in the National Curriculum for England, emphasising health, wellbeing, and safety.

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National Curriculum Links

PSHE Association Programme of Study (2017) for Key Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4):

• Health and wellbeing

  • To recognise feelings and emotions and how they affect behaviour.
  • To understand how to keep themselves and others safe.
  • To understand what to do in emergency situations.

• Relationships

  • To develop respect for others and an understanding of the importance of caring for others.

These tie directly into learning about first aid as a life skill and knowing how to respond safely in emergencies.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

1. Explain what first aid is and why it is important.
2. Identify common emergency situations where first aid might be needed.
3. Demonstrate understanding of safe behaviours when helping others in emergencies.

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Resources Needed

• Whiteboard and marker pens
• Picture cards depicting emergency scenarios (e.g., cuts, burns, choking, falls)
• Large ‘First Aid’ word card or poster
• Role-play props (plasters, bandages, soft toys)
• Interactive “What Would You Do?” scenario slips
• Reward stickers or stamps

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity: Think-Pair-Share (10 minutes)

• Prompt: Ask pupils, “What do you think ‘first aid’ means?” Write any key words or ideas on the board.
• Pupils then turn to a partner and share a time when they or someone they know needed help with a small injury or emergency.
• Share a few examples with the whole class, highlighting the variety of situations.

Curriculum link: Encourages speaking and listening skills, understanding personal experiences related to health and safety.

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2. Direct Teaching: What is First Aid? (10 minutes)

• Present a simple definition: “First aid is the help you give someone who is hurt or sick before a doctor or nurse can help.”
• Show the large ‘First Aid’ poster and explain it helps people to stay safe and well.
• Introduce key ideas:
  • First aid is not long-term care, it’s immediate help.
  • It helps stop things getting worse.
  • Always keep safe when helping others.

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3. Group Discussion: When Might We Need First Aid? (10 minutes)

• Use picture cards of different scenarios (e.g., someone cut finger, someone fallen and cried, a person choking on food).
• Children discuss in small groups which situations might need first aid and why.
• Ask: “What could we do in these situations?”
• Bring class together and note answers on board, correcting any misconceptions gently.

Curriculum focus: Recognising risks and appropriate responses, promoting empathy and responsibility.

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4. Activity: ‘What Would You Do?’ Role Play (10 minutes)

• Give pairs or trios scenario slips from the ‘What Would You Do?’ activity, e.g., “Your friend falls and scrapes their knee,” “Someone is coughing and holding their throat.”
• Pupils role-play simple first aid responses (e.g., staying calm, telling an adult, comforting the person, placing a plaster).
• Emphasise staying safe themselves and always seeking adult help.

Assessment: Observe understanding through their role-play actions and explanations.

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5. Plenary & Reflection: Safety Rules and Sharing (5 minutes)

• Review key points: What is first aid? Why is it important? When would we use it?
• Introduce simple safety rules when helping: “Look, Listen, Stay Safe, Get Help”.
• Pupils share one thing they learned or found interesting.
• Reward participation with stickers or stamps.

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Assessment

• Informal formative assessment through observation of discussions, role-plays, and responses.
• Assess pupils’ ability to identify first aid situations and demonstrate safe responses.
• Record teacher notes to inform next lessons on practical first aid skills.

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Differentiation

• Support: Provide visual prompts and sentence starters for pupils who find verbal tasks challenging.
• Challenge: Encourage confident pupils to explain why first aid can save lives and discuss how to keep themselves safe whilst helping others.

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Cross-Curricular Links

• Science: Basic human body understanding (skin, cuts, bleeding).
• English: Development of speaking, listening, and vocabulary relating to health and safety.
• Citizenship: Respecting and caring for others in the community.

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Teacher’s Notes

• Emphasise a calm and positive tone to ensure children do not become fearful about emergencies.
• Use real-world examples where possible but avoid graphic or distressing content.
• Reinforce that the most important action is to get help from a trusted adult.
• Be mindful of any child with past traumatic experiences around injury or medical treatment.

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This lesson sets a strong foundation for the following lessons, which will cover practical first aid skills, emergency calls, and further safety awareness.