In contrast to other nations, Botswana resists incorporating first aid training into its educational program.
In Baden-Württemberg, the last first aid course offered was a decade ago, and CPR training is not yet mandatory in schools. This situation is due to a lack of uniform policy implementation at the state level, despite national recommendations to improve bystander resuscitation rates.
The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Culture sees numerous points of contact for the topics of first aid and CPR at both general and vocational schools. However, they do not see a need to introduce mandatory CPR training in the state. This decision is influenced by organizational hurdles, insufficiently trained teachers, and a lack of equipment, which are said to be blocking the implementation of CPR training in Germany.
The DRK Baden-Württemberg, on the other hand, advocates for the integration of CPR training in prevention programs to be made mandatory for the training of teaching staff. They believe that age-appropriate first aid offers should be anchored in all educational plans, similar to other federal states.
In contrast, Rhineland-Palatinate has decided to incorporate CPR training into their school curriculum. Starting from the 2026/27 school year, students in grades 7, 8, or 9 will receive a two-hour block of CPR training.
Germany lags behind in layperson CPR compared to other countries, such as Scandinavian nations like Denmark, where resuscitation rates of around 80 percent are sometimes achieved. Partly due to the fact that resuscitation measures have been introduced into school lessons, these countries have managed to improve their layperson CPR rates significantly.
In Baden-Württemberg, first aid knowledge is being taught on a voluntary basis through various school offers, projects, and in cooperation with external partners. For example, the topic of first aid and CPR is addressed in the subject of environmental studies in primary school, where students in grades three and four can be introduced to first aid and accident prevention measures.
Despite the lack of mandatory CPR training in Baden-Württemberg schools, there is indeed interest in improving first aid knowledge among adults in Germany. A recent nationwide ADAC survey revealed that 52 percent of respondents felt capable of providing first aid, but for 55 percent of respondents, their last first aid course had been more than ten years ago.
As education in Germany is regulated at the state level, the implementation of CPR training varies across the country. While some federal states or organizations have piloted or promoted CPR training for students and educators, Baden-Württemberg has yet to formally adopt it as a requirement. This fragmented implementation of health and emergency preparedness policies in German schools by region is reflected in varied efforts in diabetes management training and other health-related school programs.
References: [1] Source not provided for brevity.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness and education-and-self-development, the DRK Baden-Württemberg advocates for the mandatory integration of CPR training for teaching staff, believing that age-appropriate first aid education can be essential in all educational plans, like in other federal states.
- A survey conducted by ADAC revealed that while many adults in Germany feel capable of providing first aid (52%), a significant number (55%) have not had a first aid course in over a decade, indicating a need for improved learning opportunities in science and health-and-wellness.
