School Student Group Petitions for Implementation of CPR Training Classes within Educational Institutions - School Youth Red Cross Advocates for Reinstatement of Educational Programs
German Red Cross Youth Advocates for CPR Training in Schools
The German Red Cross Youth (JRK) has called for compulsory CPR training for students across schools. Marcel Bösel, the JRK's federal leader, emphasized the need for this training in an interview with the German Press Agency on the anniversary of the youth organization.
Bösel suggested that CPR training should be integrated into the curriculum, preferably from the seventh grade. He proposed that just a couple of hours of training per year would suffice to educate students on the critical lifesaving skill.
While the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs had previously recommended incorporating CPR training into lesson plans, widespread implementation remains incomplete. Bösel pointed out that the teaching of CPR is limited to a small number of schools amidst calls for consistency.
Bösel attributed the lack of widespread implementation to financial resources and political will. The JRK aims to provide training for as many children and young people as possible, particularly through school health services.
In the event of cardiac arrest, every minute can be crucial, and doctors may not always be immediately available. Bösel estimates that the implementation of CPR training could potentially save up to 10,000 lives. Moreover, he highlighted that accidents can occur in various settings, including school, leisure time, or at home.
In its centennial year, the German Red Cross Youth now has around 160,000 members between the ages of 6 and 27. Last year saw a 20,000 increase in membership, according to Bösel. Approximately 45,000 young people actively participate in school health services nationwide.
Bösel expressed a high demand for membership but mentioned that a lack of leaders might be a future concern. He suggested that societal leadership roles are less attractive than they should be.
Although mandatory CPR training in German schools is not yet comprehensive, challenges such as financial limitations, varying teaching methodologies, and insufficient political commitment persist, according to research. Addressing these barriers with mandated policies, resource allocation, and innovative teaching approaches could significantly improve CPR education coverage and effectiveness in Germany.
- The German Red Cross Youth (JRK) advocates for the integration of vocational training, specifically CPR training, into the curriculum, with a focus on starting from the seventh grade.
- Bösel, the JRK's federal leader, believes that science, particularly the field of medicine, has a crucial role in health-and-wellness, and fitness-and-exercise, as CPR is a lifesaving skill.
- Mental-health is also a concern for the JRK, as Bösel sees CPR training as part of education-and-self-development and personal-growth, helping individuals be prepared for emergencies and potential accidents.
- To enhance CPR training across schools, the JRK plans to collaborate with vocational training programs and school health services, providing therapies-and-treatments to support mental health and promote physical fitness.
