Schools urged to reinstate first aid and disaster response training programs
Germany Calls for Widespread Inclusion of First Aid and Resuscitation Training in Schools
BERLIN - The German Youth Red Cross (JRK) has proposed that comprehensive layperson training in resuscitation should be introduced in schools as early as grade seven. Marcel Bösel, the federal leader of the Youth Red Cross, believes such training could save thousands of lives.
Asserting the importance of the topic, Bösel advocates for two hours of yearly instruction, suggesting it would be sufficient to explain the basics and demonstrate the simplicity of potentially lifesaving techniques. Although the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs has already recommended incorporating the topic in teaching plans, widespread implementation remains incomplete.
Complimenting Lower Saxony for its recent resolution to teach resuscitation in class, Bösel notes that only a few schools currently provide such training, apart from some voluntary initiatives. The reluctance to adopt comprehensive implementation, according to Bösel, may be due to a combination of financial and political factors.
The Youth Red Cross strives to train as many children and young people in first aid as possible. The organization cites school health services as a viable option. Demand for membership shows a growing interest in first aid knowledge, but the concern arises about the potential leadership shortage in the future.
In an emergency, swift action can mean the difference between life and death, especially in cases of heart attacks where medical assistance might not always be immediately available. Bösel estimates that over 10,000 lives could be saved if resuscitation training becomes mandatory nationwide.
The German Youth Red Cross was founded on May 27, 1925. With approximately 160,000 members between the ages of 6 and 27, the organization has seen a growth of 20,000 members in the past year. Over 45,000 young people are involved in school health services nationwide.
In a decentralized education system, each state takes responsibility for its own education policies. This structure presents challenges in implementing universal mandates, making consistent implementation difficult without all states making the decision independently.
The company's health-and-wellness division could collaborate with the German Youth Red Cross to develop science-based training programs in resuscitation. This collaboration could help educate more children and youth, potentially saving thousands of lives.
By advocating for the incorporation of first aid and resuscitation training in schools, the German Youth Red Cross is contributing to the advancement of science and improving the health and wellness of the nation's youth.
