School's Revival of Red Cross Education Advocated by Youth Red Cross
German Youth Red Cross Urges Comprehensive Resuscitation Training in Schools
BERLIN — The German Youth Red Cross (JRK) has expressed the need for students to learn resuscitation techniques in emergency situations. According to Marcel Boesel, the federal leader of the Youth Red Cross, compulsory training in resuscitation should be introduced in schools, ideally starting from the seventh grade.
Boesel advocates for a minimum of two hours per year dedicated to layperson resuscitation training in schools. He believes this would provide an opportunity to explain the importance of resuscitation and demonstrate its simplicity in potentially saving lives.
The Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs has been recommending the inclusion of resuscitation in curricula since 2014. However, full implementation remains an outstanding issue. First aid with a focus on resuscitation is only extensively taught in a minority of schools, as indicated by Boesel.
The slow progress in implementing resuscitation training can be partially attributed to financial constraints and a lack of political will, says Boesel. The Youth Red Cross aims to train as many children and young people in first aid as possible through initiatives like school health services.
The importance of first aid knowledge is underscored by the fact that during cardiac arrest, every minute is crucial, and medical professionals may not always be immediately available. Boesel estimates that up to 10,000 lives could be saved if resuscitation training were implemented nationwide.
Established 100 years ago, the Youth Red Cross currently boasts approximately 160,000 members aged 6 to 27, with a 20,000 increase last year. Around 45,000 young people are involved in school health services across the country. Boesel predicts that the future challenge may be finding enough leaders for the organization, as societal leadership roles are not as appealing as they should be.
Enhancing comprehensive layperson resuscitation training requires several strategies, including mandatory legislation, improved teacher training and professional development, increased funding, standardized curricula, and innovative educational approaches. The lack of a binding legal mandate, insufficient teacher training, and a lack of unified policy support currently hinder full implementation in German schools. Addressing these issues can lead to widespread implementation of life-saving CPR training in schools.
Other areas, such as science, health-and-wellness, education-and-self-development, and learning, could benefit from the comprehensive approach demonstrated by the German Youth Red Cross in resuscitation training. Implementing mandated first aid education, including resuscitation, could potentially save many lives beyond those at risk of cardiac arrest, providing students with valuable skills for various emergencies.
