I recently wrote about the course I attended with The British Red Cross for Baby and Child First Aid. It was such a worthwhile course and I’m so pleased I went on it and learnt some new skills which may very well assist me to do the right thing if (and I hope I don’t) I ever need them.

Jimmy recently fell over and hit his head while he was eating a piece of bread. He cried immediately but as I picked him up he sucked in and did what I thought was hold his breath. Both my children have been known to have this reaction when scared but if I blow in their faces they usually start breathing again. Apparently children are set a bit differently and often hold their breath like this and blowing in their faces gives them a little shock to re-set themselves again. But this time Jimmy didn’t breathe and when I blew twice more he still didn’t. It was very scary as he started going blue around the nose, mouth and eyes. My Mum called an ambulance and I turned him over as I was shown on the course and hit him on the back in the way advised in case of choking.

Thank god he started crying.  I think he may very well have held his breath in a bit of shock like I initially thought but as he did so perhaps he sucked a piece of the bread he was eating to the back of his throat where it may have got stuck. Now I never saw the bread come out so it’s possible that he did just hold his breath out of shock but giving him the hard back pats was the only thing that got him to breathe and I’m incredibly grateful that I went on that course.

I’m not saying I was a model first aid giver, far from it! I flapped and was panicked, I was screaming at my Mum who was on the phone dialling 999 to help but somewhere in all that panic I remembered just a little something which may have helped. I’m so pleased I did the course even though I hope, hope, hope I am never in the position to have to do anything like that ever again. By the time the ambulance arrived Jimmy was cruising round the room, smiling and laughing – we were very lucky.

Learning First Aid is so, so important and The British Red Cross are trying to get First Aid and Humanitarian Education to be mandatory on the English Curriculum. Both are currently optional teaching subjects but very few schools take up the option. The British Red Cross think equipping school students with life-saving skills should be a mandatory part of the curriculum. The English curriculum is currently under review, so there’s no better time to get people talking about it!

This is what The British Red Cross have to say:

 Over 90 percent of students would like to learn first aid in school, says British Red Cross survey

More than 90 percent of secondary school students would like to learn first aid training in school; and would feel more confident helping a friend or family member needing first aid if they received the training, reveals an ICM poll commissioned by the British Red Cross published today.

The findings support the British Red Cross’ Pupil Citizen Lifesaver (PCL) campaign, launched today (15 February 2013), to promote the inclusion of first aid education in school curriculums.

The poll of secondary students across England and Wales reveals that:

–          94 percent would feel more confident to help a friend or family member needing first aid if they received training

–          91 percent of students would like to learn first aid in schools

–          67 percent agree that it would be easier to find a job if they received first aid training

–          66 percent are not currently confident that they could help someone who needs first aid

Joe Mulligan, British Red Cross’ head of first aid, said:

“These numbers should be a massive wake up call for each and every one of us: teachers, parents, politicians and the children themselves. First aid education must be more accessible in the classroom to build a generation of better citizens who possess life-saving skills.

“This research shows us that students have a strong desire to learn first aid, with 90 per cent of them registering interest to receive training in the classroom. Yet today, only 20 per cent say they have learned it in the classroom.  We urge parents and teachers alike to sign up to the Red Cross campaign to ensure that this essential life skill is included in the schools curriculums,” Mulligan explained. 

The People Citizenship Lifesaver (PCL) campaign, calls for inclusion of first aid and humanitarian education in all schools across England and Wales. 

The British Red Cross is encouraging people to visit its webpage: redcross.org.uk/pupilcitizenlifesaver to sign up a petition that will get the government to make first aid education mandatory in all schools across the country. 

Already, the British Red Cross is working with over 30 000 education bodies, schools, teachers, and engaging politicians before the end of the schools curriculum review in April 2013.

Joe continued: “The Government’s proposals are now open to public consultation.  We have two months to shape the future lives of millions, by getting first aid into schools so every child can learn how save a life. Let’s all take action now. 

“Our studies show that having first aid taught in the classroom helps make it second nature for students to respond to emergencies. Today’s education places emphasis on students’ examinations, but we would like to see children become better citizens as well.”

The British Red Cross provides schools and teachers with several free online, first aid and humanitarian education resources including the fortnightly lesson plans called newsthink. The material is currently subscribed to by over 30 000 teachers across the UK, reaching at least 300,000 children.

I think it’s really important which is why I’ve chosen to write this post. If you think it’s important too then please share it!

I have not been paid in any way to write this post.