First aid in schools becomes compulsory

Children at school learning first aid

It has recently been confirmed that from 2020 onwards, the government will make first aid training compulsory in English schools. First aid will be taught as part of the health education curriculum in all government-funded schools, and will be delivered at an age-appropriate level in both primary and secondary schools.

The University of Warwick states that fewer than one in 10 cardiac arrest victims in the UK survive outside of a hospital setting, but survival rates are highest among patients who receive bystander CPR and public access defibrillation. However, knowledge of CPR, defibrillator use, and other first aid principles is fairly limited, with the British Heart Foundation reporting that nearly a third of UK adults would not attempt CPR as they would not feel confident in their ability to carry it out correctly.

It is hoped that teaching first aid in schools will give children the chance to learn life-saving skills, and help create a society that is well-versed in the best practices to follow in common medical emergencies. It’s likely that primary schools will introduce basic skills such as dealing with common injuries and how to make an emergency call. Secondary students will receive a broader education, including CPR and defibrillator use.

The Red Cross has already begun releasing lesson plans suitable for use with children from seven to 16, covering things such as burns and scalds, bleeding and shock, treating bites and stings, and what to do if someone is choking or having an asthma attack.

With a pilot scheme already running in 1,600 English schools, teachers are getting ready for the full roll-out of the new program from September 2020. For now, teaching first aid in schools will only be compulsory in England, but the Red Cross is calling for it to be extended to other parts of the UK as soon as possible. If you need first aid supplies for school take a look at our comprehensive range here.

Disclaimer: The information provided through Legislation Watch is for general guidance only and is not legal advice. Legislation Watch is not a substitute for Health and Safety consultancy. You should seek independent advice about any legal matter.

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