A pioneering child safety scheme based at the Bradford Royal Infirmary which has become the largest of its kind in the country is celebrating its tenth anniversary.

The Injury Minimisation Programme for Schools (IMPS) now educates 5,800 primary school pupils a year. In the last decade, more than 50,000 ten and 11-year-olds have benefited from IMPS which brings the children into the Accident and Emergency department to learn how to avoid and deal with accidents.

They are taught basic first aid skills and how to prevent and deal with the most common accidents like burns and scalds, falls, electrocution, choking, bleeding and road traffic accidents.

Programme co-ordinator, Taryn Shepherd, said: “Celebrating ten years of IMPS is an incredible success.

“The programme aims to remove the fear factor for children should they return as patients as well as teaching them vital first aid skills.”

Last October, Jack Clayton, 11, who experienced IMPS training with his class from St Cuthbert’s and the First Martyrs Catholic Primary School, had to put the skills into action.

A week after attending the course, his father collapsed at home. Jack called 999 and put him into the recovery position when no one else in his family knew what to do.

The BRI IMPs scheme, which is funded by NHS Bradford and Airedale, also runs at Airedale General Hospital.

NHS Bradford and Airedale’s head of public health, Ralph Saunders, said: “I’m very proud of everything that IMPS has achieved over the past 10 years.

“Local schools’ enthusiasm about the programme has helped thousands of children to benefit.”

For further information a contact Taryn Shepherd on (01274) 382145.