A new education program run by St John Ambulance is expected to reach 15,000 WA children this year, teaching them basic emergency first aid skills and how to identify an emergency situation.
The SJA Early Childhood Program will be aimed at children aged under eight and will also teach them how to assess potentially dangerous situations and how to call triple zero if required.
The free in-school program was officially launched at the City of Wanneroo Library on Thursday.
As part of the launch Dr Fiona Wood, one of Australia's most respected surgeons, delivered a special reading of a new book titled 000 Hero, a book which introduces children about the role paramedics perform in the community.
The book will form a crucial part of the new program, which will begin in February.
The 45 minute program will be delivered by an early childhood educator, who will visit kindergarten and preschool classrooms to read the book and talk to students about paramedics and ambulance vehicles.
SJA youth and community engagement manager Jae Smith said the Early Childhood Program would give children a foundation to learn other first aid skills as they grow older.
"At the most fundamental level, the Early Childhood Program is about engaging with young children and educating them about first aid so that they know what to do in an emergency," Ms Smith said.
"The program is linked to the WA curriculum and is designed to engage at an age-appropriate level, while also promoting some important messages that will stay with children for life.
"We don't ever want children to see an ambulance as something to be afraid of, which is why it's important to introduce them to St John Ambulance at a young age and teach them about the work of paramedics."
Dr Wood, a mother of six and former Australian of the Year, has thrown her support behind the initiative.
"There have been many instances where a child has helped someone after an accident or injury because they've been taught how to dial triple zero (000)," Dr Wood said.
"The Early Childhood Program is quite unique in that it engages with children at such an early age, but the skills taught are really valuable and most importantly for the kids, it looks like a lot of fun."
For more information about the program people can email youth@stjohnambulance.com.au or call (08) 9334 1310.
