National Children's Day with Zoe Gillings-Brier

On Sunday the 13th of May, the UK will be celebrating National Children's Day. This is the highlighted day of the year where we pay tribute to all the little ones in our lives, whether they're our sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, cousins or friends. 

As an early contribution to National Children's Day, we thought we'd catch up with defibshop's Brand Ambassador, 4-time Olympian and mum, Zoe Gillings-Brier who has her very own little one running around, Léa.

In our exclusive interview with Zoe, we discussed the importance of ensuring children's safety, Paediatric First Aid training and how you can ensure you're prepared for every situation and can help to keep your little one safe.

• Hi Zoe, since becoming a mum, are you more aware of the safety procedures put in places such as shopping centres, leisure centres and playgrounds, such as more staff trained and AEDs available?

I'm certainly more aware of safety in general. If it was a choice between going to two different places then the safety procedures in place would be a significant thing to take into account before deciding.

• Léa will be two this year when she starts nursery and eventually starts school, will you be enquiring about the safety procedures they have in place?

Definitely! When myself and Dan go to look at nurseries suitable for Léa, it will be one of the first questions I ask.

Without a doubt, I'll want to know what safety procedures are in place so I know when Léa is there, she's safe.

• Do you think defibrillators should be a legal requirement in schools across the UK?

Yes, they definitely should be. 

No one is immune to Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Children, similarly to adults are at risk too, so it's important that schools are equipped to deal with this type of emergency, effectively. 

Not only would the device protect the children, but it'd protect the staff too. The cost is very small compared to the life or death difference they can make.

• Would you like Léa to have the opportunity to learn First Aid skills as part of the National Curriculum?

To be honest, I'm amazed it's not already on the National Curriculum. If she's not taught it at school, as parents we will be making sure she has the opportunity to learn first aid out of school.

If it was taught in school then all kids in the country would be safer, including mine.

• It’s been two years since you gained your Paediatric First Aid Qualification, do you feel in an emergency, you’d be confident enough to act?

I often re-read the paediatric first aid manual I received on the course. Thanks to that information, I think I'd be able to handle an emergency effectively. 

• Do you feel more parents should gain these potentially life-saving skills?

Definitely, these skills are so important as they can help you save a life. I've already advised it to new parents and will continue to advise it as the knowledge and skills you gain is invaluable. 

• You’re an athlete and a mum, do you think it’s important that parents have an understanding of the safety procedures required to allow their children to compete and train safely?  

I feel more confident as a parent every day because I have at least some knowledge of what to do in an emergency, but if my daughter was participating in sport, especially an action sport like mine, I would want to know what to do if she got injured.

Zoe 

We hope this interview with Zoe has inspired you to consider enrolling onto a paediatric first aid qualification so you have the essential skills and knowledge of how to act in the event of an emergency.

What will you be doing to mark National Children's Day? Are you already qualified in Paediatric First Aid? Get in touch with us by heading on over to our Twitter page, @defibshop and share your thoughts with us there.