Our Year 8 students at Belgrave Heights Christian School stepped out of the classroom and into the world of emergency response, thanks to a hands-on session with trained paramedics from Ambulance Victoria.

The day began with the DRSABCD action plan, the step-by-step framework used to check for danger, assess a person’s response and call for help before providing care. Paramedics explained why each step matters and how the order helps keep both the patient and the person helping safe.

From there, students put the theory into practice. Working in small groups, they practised CPR technique on training manikins, with paramedics on hand to guide their hand placement, rhythm and depth of compressions. Real-world scenarios gave students the chance to think through what they would actually do if they came across someone in need, and the paramedics shared stories from the field that made the learning all the more memorable.

It was encouraging to see our students take the session so seriously, asking thoughtful questions and encouraging one another as they practised. The experience gave them practical skills and just as importantly, the confidence to step forward and act when it counts.

A heartfelt thank you to Ambulance Victoria for giving our students such an engaging and valuable day. These are skills they can carry with them for life.