Advocacy by the Red Cross Youth for Integration of Resuscitation Training in Educational Institutions - School Youth Red Cross Urges Reintroduction of Curricular Programs in Educational Institutions
Young People Should Learn CPR in Schools, Says German Red Cross Youth
The German Red Cross Youth (JRK) advocates for the inclusion of comprehensive layperson CPR training in schools, emphasizing its importance in saving lives during emergencies. As per Marcel Bösel, the federal leader of the JRK, this training should ideally begin from the 7th grade.
In a press statement, Bösel highlighted the simplicity of learning CPR, stating that two hours of annual training could equip students with the essential life-saving skills. This contrasts with the current situation, where first aid with a focus on CPR is not taught extensively in most schools.
Recommendations to include CPR training in school curricula were made by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs as early as 2014. However, the comprehensive implementation of this recommendation is still pending.
One of the main reasons for the delay is the lack of a binding legislative mandate in Germany, unlike some European countries that have enacted such laws. The implementation of CPR education remains inconsistent across schools due to this legislative gap and practical challenges like limited funding and inadequate teacher training.
Bösel underscored the potential impact of implementing layperson CPR training, suggesting that as many as 10,000 lives could be saved annually. In the event of cardiac arrest, every minute counts, and a doctor may not always be immediately available.
The German Red Cross Youth was founded in 1925 and currently has approximately 160,000 members between the ages of 6 and 27. The organization aims to train as many children and young people in first aid as possible, with around 45,000 of them actively involved in school health services nationwide.
Bösel also acknowledged a high demand for membership but expressed concern about the potential shortage of leaders in the future. The attractiveness of leadership roles in society seems to be diminishing, posing a challenge for the growth of the organization.
[1] In many European countries, CPR training in schools is mandatory due to national laws, resulting in more consistent implementation across schools. Germany currently only recommends CPR training without a binding mandate, contributing to the inconsistent application of this life-saving skill in schools.[2] While Germany does require first aid training for driver's license applicants, this does not automatically translate to comprehensive CPR training in schools.[3] The European Resuscitation Council advocates mandatory CPR education starting from early childhood (age 4 and above) and annual school-based training supported by legislation. Germany’s education policy may still be in the process of adapting to such calls for mandatory CPR education.[4] Ongoing discussions and evolving guidelines within Europe aim to harmonize and strengthen CPR training policies to improve survival outcomes, potentially leading to more mandatory CPR education in German schools in the near future.
- Implementing a mandatory community policy for CPR training in schools, like many European countries have done, could lead to a more consistent application of this lifesaving skill in Germany, as per the European Resuscitation Council's recommendations.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development and health-and-wellness, vocational training programs could be expanded to include CPR certification, not just for older generations, but also for young people, serving both their personal growth and the community's well-being.
