Summary: A briefing from the British Red Cross

Description: The British Red Cross is calling for first aid and humanitarian education to play a central role in the new National Curriculum.

First aid skills save lives and reduce the impact of injuries, making a vital difference in various emergency situations. Humanitarian education tackles contemporary global issues from child soldiers to HIV, teaching young people to understand and respond to disaster and adversity whether it affects them or others.

The British Red Cross (BRC) argues that covering these topics in the classroom will create stronger and more humane communities where people are willing and able to act when a crisis occurs.

They are suggesting that messages of first aid and humanitarian education can be incorporated into existing subjects such as Citizenship, Science and PSHE education.

Their briefing – Building resilience through education (available to download below) – outlines where in the curriculum first aid and humanitarian issues could be covered. The briefing is also available as a downloadable .pdf below.

The BRC makes the case that by including these topics in lessons schools will also be well placed to meet Ofsted requirements for health and safety.

The PSHE Association is committed to supporting the development of health and wellbeing, including first aid/life saving skills, through the provision of high quality PSHE education in schools.