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Secondary education

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Original poster

Compulsary First Aid - Waste of time?

44 replies

Patentzebra · 18/10/2015 18:59

Surely our kids are under enough pressure without adding yet another subject to the curriculum?

everychildalifesaver.org.uk/

OP posts:
AgeingArtemis · 18/10/2015 19:21

I disagree. It's a skill that hopefully will never have to be used, but could save a life.

Whether kids are "under pressure" is relative, and besides, this would literally take a couple of hours to learn. It could (and in some schools, already is) be taught as part of the PSHE curriculum.

rainbowunicorn · 18/10/2015 20:24

How on earth can a life skill with the potential to save a life be a waste of time OP. What a bizarre way to think.

Sirzy · 18/10/2015 20:27

I fail to see how eqipping people with the skills to save a life is a waste of time.

I presume if you collapsed you would rather like someone nearby to know what to do to help?

Original poster
Patentzebra · 18/10/2015 22:17

I think first aid is useful but not sure about teaching it in school - surely it would be better to put it in the driving test

OP posts:
Sirzy · 18/10/2015 22:18

Not everyone learns to drive though. Everyone goes to school.

INeedNewShoes · 18/10/2015 22:18

There's a video on the BBC News website that I happen to have watched this evening where some school boys are being interviewed after saving their friend's life by administering CPR.

honeysucklejasmine · 18/10/2015 22:21

When he watched his friend collapse and die, my brother says he wished he knew what to do.

It was SADS and there was nothing to be done, but he says even trying would have made it easier to cope with.

Original poster
Patentzebra · 18/10/2015 22:29

oh thats so sad - a lot of youth groups teach it though dont they?

OP posts:
Original poster
Patentzebra · 18/10/2015 22:29

oh thats so sad - a lot of youth groups teach it though dont they?

OP posts:
Original poster
Patentzebra · 18/10/2015 22:29

oh thats so sad - a lot of youth groups teach it though dont they?

OP posts:
Original poster
Patentzebra · 18/10/2015 22:29

oh thats so sad - a lot of youth groups teach it though dont they?

OP posts:
Original poster
Patentzebra · 18/10/2015 22:29

oh thats so sad - a lot of youth groups teach it though dont they?

OP posts:
Original poster
Patentzebra · 18/10/2015 22:29

oh thats so sad - a lot of youth groups teach it though dont they?

OP posts:
Original poster
Patentzebra · 18/10/2015 22:29

oh thats so sad - a lot of youth groups teach it though dont they?

OP posts:
Original poster
Patentzebra · 18/10/2015 22:29

oh thats so sad - a lot of youth groups teach it though dont they?

OP posts:
Original poster
Patentzebra · 18/10/2015 22:29

oh thats so sad - a lot of youth groups teach it though dont they?

OP posts:
Sirzy · 18/10/2015 22:31

But again not everyone goes to a youth group.

I really don't see how anyone can be against making sure all young people are equipped with skills to save someone's life. To me that's one of the most important things someone can learn.

AlmaFreckle · 18/10/2015 22:34

I saved a little boy from drowning when I was 14 years old. He was blue in the face and didn't breathe when I pulled him out. He only survived because I had been trained in first aid (scouts) and knew what to do.

honeysucklejasmine · 19/10/2015 03:47

Yes, I learned my first aid at Guides, but my brother didn't go to scouts. We actually did do basic first aid at school, once, in year 9. For about 15 minutes. I remember, because they were teaching an older version of the recovery position which did not fill me with confidence about the rest of it.

I can't see how a couple of sessions of first aid a year, during existing PSHE lessons, could be anything other than a good thing.

winterland · 19/10/2015 04:12

How could it ever be a bad thing. Imagine it was your child etc that needed saved? In Norway they teach as part if the curriculum and their survival rate of cardiac arrest is far higher than ours.

Chippednailvarnish · 19/10/2015 04:43

We did compulsory first aid every two years from 14 to 18 years old at school. I have no idea how anyone could disagree with it.

Witchend · 19/10/2015 12:20

We did it at school. It's not a new thing to do it.

But definitely it would be better if more people knew how to do basic first aid. I'm not that experienced in it, but I'm always being amazed how little basic stuff people actually know.

cressetmama · 19/10/2015 15:57

Was going to mention Norway, but see a PP has beaten me to it. I agree that it should be taught from Y7 and refreshed or added to each year until DC leave school.

Sirzy · 19/10/2015 16:02

I think it should also be done in primary school.

MrsWembley · 19/10/2015 19:17

I can remember doing a short course in primary school, back in the 70s. It's really not that new an idea.

And I've taught/been trained in schools where it's part of the PSHE curriculum. Again, not new!

It's not taking any time away from other subjects. Stop stressing and embrace the idea that you might have your life saved by a hooded yoof!