One of the themes of National Cadets Week 2026 (5-11 October) is ‘Life-saving skills’.
Being a cadet enables young people to develop the essential skills which will help them respond when someone needs urgent medical attention. Cadets receive first aid training and are able to earn qualifications that will help them keep people in their communities safe.
There are many examples of cadets using their first aid skills to help people, often requiring fast decision making and teamwork. Today we’re highlighting stories of amazing cadets in our region who used their first aid training to save lives.
Cdt Sgt Pope, Cambridgeshire ACF
Cdt Sgt Pope put first aid skills he had learned at his detachment in Melbourn to work when he found a man lying injured at the roadside.
Upon discovering the injured man Cdt Sgt Pope drew on his training to assess the situation and quickly took charge. When a passer-by stopped to help he asked her to call 999. After learning that an ambulance would take an hour to arrive, Cdt Sgt Pope ran more than 200 yards to a nearby pet shop to ask for their first aid kit.
After treating a three-inch head wound and a laceration to the man’s nose, Cdt Sgt Pope became concerned about the cold weather and the busy road location. He arranged for the casualty to be moved to a local garden centre, where he continued providing care and reassurance until paramedics arrived.
“It was daunting and stressful, particularly as I had older people looking at me to make decisions, but I was pleased to have done something of value,” Cdt Sgt Pope said. “As well as teaching me first aid skills, the Army Cadet Force has taught me how to take initiative and be confident in front of others.”
Staff Sergeants Gandy and Enderle, Cambridgeshire ACF, and Air Cadet Ewan, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing, Royal Air Force Cadets
Three Cambridgeshire cadets put their first aid training to the test to save a friend’s life. Army Cadet Force (ACF) Staff Sergeants Gandy (Ely Detachment) and Enderle (Chesterton), and Air Cadet Ewan (Ely) were attending a party to celebrate the end of their GCSEs, when another boy became ill and collapsed.
They went to his aid, and on observing the rise and fall of his chest realised he was breathing very erratically, with periods where he was not breathing at all. They called the emergency services who advised them to immediately begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
SSgt Gandy performed the CPR, whilst SSgt Enderle and Air Cadet Ewan monitored his breathing. Gandy said: “After just 10 or 20 seconds he began to breathe again, but he was still unconscious.” Once he was breathing, he vomited very dramatically.
SSgt Enderle asked for a bucket of water and a towel and then cleared the vomit from his mouth to prevent choking and make sure his airway was clear. SSgt Enderle and Air Cadet Ewan helped Gandy to get the casualty into the recovery position, whilst they continued to monitor his breathing.
However, within minutes, the casualty stopped breathing once again. Gandy again performed CPR, resulting in him resuming breathing and giving a response by moving his arm and squeezing one of the cadets’ hands.
When paramedics arrived the cadets were able to brief them about what happened. The casualty was taken to hospital for further care and observation, and quickly made a full recovery.
Cadet SSgt Gandy said: “The ACF has grown my confidence as a leader, but it has also taught us all to work together. I wouldn’t have been able to do it alone.”
Cdt SSgt Enderle agreed, saying: “We were able to work together and communicate clearly because of our cadet training. The ACF has given me the skills and the confidence I needed, and allowed me to discover things in myself that I didn’t know I could do.”
For more information on cadets and to find your local detachment click here.
