Chance to win £250! New year, new skill? How about first aid? Share your thoughts with the British Red Cross NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We have been asked by the British Red Cross to find out - in general - what new skills you're planning to learn or find out about in 2015?

They say "the new year is a time for thinking about learning something new in the year ahead. British Red Cross would like all mumsnetters to equip themselves with a new life skill in 2015 by learning first aid for baby and child - on a course, online or by downloading the free Baby and Child First Aid app".

So, what new skills are you planning to try and learn this year? If it's first aid, how will you learn this? How do you feel about learning new skills these days? What about your partner? How do you find the time to learn new things as you get older? Do you think it's important to do this?

If you're keen on finding out about learning some first aid skills - do check out the resources from the British Red Cross:

Courses info
Online materials
Free App

And let us know on this thread what you think.

Share your thoughts on learning new skills generally and any feedback on the British Red Cross first aid for baby and child info on this thread and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one lucky MNer will win a £250 John Lewis voucher.

Please add your comment by 26 January 2015. Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

That app looks really useful. My first aid is years out of date now so I ought to go on another course.

I have been meaning to do a refresher first aid course for a while and haven't got round to it. This has reminded me that I ought to find a course in my area...

I don't bother with New Years resolutions or setting out plans for taking stock/ self improvement. I just learn things as I go and look up training as he need arises. I took the first aid for babies and children course with my DH when our baby was born so we could feel more confident in handling and avoiding emergencies and accidents. The app has been great to keep the knowledge fresh in my mind.

It is so important to learn new skills and keep your mind fresh, reactive and proactive. In respect of first aid for babies, and in general, if you attend these courses then your reaction to emergencies is instinctive and valuable. Do they include them in the school syllabus? They should be a regular feature throughout the school year, not just a one off but second nature.

We did the Baby and Child First Aid course last month through Red Cross and it was brilliant. Also downloaded the app at the same time (and adult version too).

Both me and DH went, as although we'd done adults courses via work neither had done baby specific first aid. With baby due in March, we wanted to make sure we knew what to do should anything happen... And we're both now confident that we do, and wouldn't panic in an emergency situation.

As time goes on, we'll use the app to refresh the course content.

As for new skills, since most of the year will be maternity leave, I'm planning lots of crafty hobbies - which hopefully I'll get a chance to do!

The app is great. A wonderful tool for making first aid training quickly and easily accessible. I am first aid trained but this only really covers the basics. I think it's really important for every parent to received some form of training, you just never know what you might have to deal with. I love learning news skill and this has definitely made me think about taking a refresher course.

I'll be learning to DIY as we're planning to buy a fixer-upper. I'm more nervous about the challenge than I would have felt ten years ago. Yet I'm more competent. Weird
New year, new challenge.

i think basic first aid should be taught in school and followed thru the school years.

Fabulous idea.

My sister actually done a first aid course recently, and I might be interested to do one too, if I can convince myself to take time off work.

I have completed a first aid course but I feel that I don't remember anything at all and that if I needed to use my knowledge it would all be jumbled up in my head

i'm a trained childminder so will be doing my refresher first aid! Thinks it's vital, life saving knowledge everyone should now! xx

I do have some first aid training as I trained in childcare and find it so important to know what to do! I also think it's incredibly important to keep learning as we get older. This year I hope to learn about better eating and I also want to learn more about blogging!

It's so hard to find the time to learn new things with young children. I'd love to take a painting course.

I like the app, very useful.

I always find that I forget the info taught in first aid courses very quickly, so like to have very basic, quick refreshers to read or watch.

Recently I saw a good, short YouTube clip on what to do if a baby was choking, good because it was so short add concise.

Baby number three due in a few months so will defo be v=brushing up on my first aid skills, as will the rest of the family, its so important!

I really would love to learn first aid, it is a vital skill to have....I am going to make time to attend a course this year!

First Aid at work is mandatory for businesses - shouldn't First Aid for babies and children be for all parents, grandparents,babysitters... We would all want to be able to help our child or indeed someone else's (it's not easy to stay calm when you're child is in distress of course) and I will definitely be doing this. What do you think?

A really good app - gives a good general overview. I'd like to do a first aid course as it would give me more confidence in the home.

I'd also like to do a creative writing course, and I should probably do some professional development courses to try to get ready for going back to work in the next year or so...

I would love to learn more about first aid for little ones

I took a Red Cross Baby & Child First Aid Course several years ago when I became a childminder. The skills I learned were invaluable for my confidence. I once used them when my own daughter started to choke on a piece of plastic she'd found at the supermarket checkout. I hooked it out of her mouth, if I hadn't had the training I might have made a bad situation worse. Luckily I've never had to use my first aid skills since then but I still look through my book every now and then just in case. I'll try the new app now, such a great additional resource.

I would love to do a pediatric first aid course. I've heard the local sure start offer it and am going to look at signing up.

My youngest DC is coming up to his first birthday & so I have decided to reprise this year for me! I have just embarked upon a course in proofreading, with a view to possibly using it in my career if I get on well.

I have done a couple of first aid courses in the past - a work one, not long before I left on my first maternity leave, and a paediatric one, just after the birth of DC1. I would definitely be interested in refreshing these skills, they are absolutely vital & I do think that first aid should be a compulsory part of the school curriculum.

Super idea, am going to download the app. x

Unfortunately, as an agoraphobic, I shall be hoping to relearn how to leave the house and use buses etc rather than learning a new skill. However, if I didn't have to do that first, my choice of skills to learn would be driving and learning to play the piano.

Saying that, I am about to knit a blanket for my first grandchild who is due in May. Although I can knit a bit, I've never actually knitted something before.

My new skill is going to be blanket knitting!!

I really want to learn to scuba dive, but first aid might be a good accompaniment to that...

I did a first aid course in my spare time a couple of years ago and topped it up with a road traffic first on scene accident management course

This year I would love to learn to wheelie my motorbike, preferably without needing any first aid myself