Middlesbrough Teens Trained For Drug Related Emergency

From today, hundreds of Middlesbrough teenagers are learning how to give life-saving first aid to people affected by drugs.

13 to 14-year-olds at Trinity Catholic College in Acklam will learn how to give CPR, as well as how to deal with seizures and suspected poisoning.

Training is being provided by charity St John Ambulance, who will also help with drug awareness workshops run by Newton Aycliffe charity DISC.

The scheme is currently being piloted across the North of England, with the hope of rolling it out in schools across the UK.

Assistant head teacher Simon Carey explained it was the first time this subject would be covered with Year 9 students: "We already cover this issue with Year 11's but feel a need to bring the subject down to younger students.

"Like with other areas, such as child sexual exploitation, the necessary age for discussion is getting lower. Our parents are in agreement that Year 9 is a good time to make them aware of the dangers."

St John Ambulance youth development officer, Linda Clark, said: "We have successfully run a number of similar courses in the Northwest and have found the young people to be very receptive to learning the skills they know could save lives."