27/01/2011
We call on the Government to teach children how to become
life-savers
The Government
has published its plans to reform how and what children are taught
in schools in England.
The Education Bill sets out changes to the way that pupils will
be tested, teacher training and how schools are funded. The
national curriculum, the core subjects and skills
which all schools must teach, will be slimmed down giving teachers
more freedom to teach other subjects. We’d like to see all children
taught emergency life-saving
skills.
Joseph Clift, Policy Officer at the BHF, said:
“Giving schools the freedom to focus on a core set of skills
provides an excellent opportunity for children to
be taught lifesaving skills.
“We want MPs to amend the Bill to help children
to leave school with the skills to save a life,
empowering them to play a vital role in their family and local
community.
Knowing how to stop bleeding, open an airway or perform CPR should be considered as important as knowing times tables
“Children learn about
algebra and English history, but being able to name all of Henry
VIII's wives is unlikely to save someone's life in an emergency.
Knowing how to stop bleeding, open an airway or
perform
CPR should be considered as important as knowing times
tables.”
Our Heartstart programme works in
partnership with local volunteer groups, the ambulance service and
other organisations to teach people in communities including
schools emergency life support skills.