Should CPR be taught in schools?

During my drive home after work I was listen to the local radio news...

'15 year old girl saves Grandma's life after chocking on steak!'

Now I'm not going to preach that this is something close to my heart, but it is something I do believe this and among other things we should be teaching our children in school.

You can all probably remember the Vinnie Jones advert on the TV back in 2012 teaching the nation how to do hands only CPR. If you want to relive the moment then click the link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jks0Yxd4E28.

The world has progressed in the last 7 years. You will find AED's (Automated External Defibrillator) in most public areas. The procedure has probably changed from 30 breath's and 2 chest compression's to something else and back again 100 times over. It's been a good number of years since I was a team medic in the British Army and my first aid at work qualification ran out months ago, but my experiences of medical care will stay with me forever.

In my opinion, doing something is better than nothing. You would probably find in this modern era, someone filming a person chocking to death rather than helping anyway. Sometime back in 2013/14, I was in a situation where I had to give CPR to a stranger. Back then, I was still serving and fitter than I am now. Anyone who can administer CPR properly over 3-4 minutes are a hero. It is hard work and very tiring! Another bystander who was with me called emergency services while I started assisting the unconscious person. After 5 minutes or so I was exhausted and needed to rest. The other guy didn't know CPR and I was to out of breath to coach him. All I could muster was 'something is better than nothing'. After rotating a few times the paramedics arrived and took over. I never found out if the person made it or not.

The other guy in my brief story was reluctant to help because he wasn't trained and in my experience because they were in fact were an adult. Children tend not to think about the dangers or the repercussions if things go wrong. They would probably dive straight in and assist if they had the training.

There are 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year, and each day people needlessly die because bystanders don’t have the confidence or knowledge to perform CPR and defibrillation. In countries that teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, in schools, cardiac arrest survival rates are more than double those of Britain.

Which is why...

Children will be taught basic lifesaving skills under government plans for health education to be provided in every school. The proposals, due to be rolled out in 2020, are part of the Department for Education’s plans to improve health, sex and relationships teaching.