
Stephen learned first aid in schools and saved a woman’s life © Mike Poloway/UNPChristchurch School, Skipton. 4 December 2017. Stephen Orbeldaze.
Great news! The government is planning to add first aid to the school curriculum in England.
Years of campaigning by the British Red Cross and other organisations are finally paying off. Children and young people will now get the skills they need to save a life.
Why is first aid in school so important?
British Red Cross research found that more than nine in ten adults (95%)* would not be able, confident or willing to help in three life-threatening first aid emergencies.
Teaching first aid in schools will help change this. We want everyone to know how to save a life.
But does first aid education in school really work?
Yes. Red Cross teaching resources have helped children and young people learn first aid in school for years.
So we know that children who learn first aid go on to use it. These real-life stories of young first aiders show how this works.
Saving a woman on the street: Stephen’s story
Because Stephen, aged eight, learned first aid at school, he was able to help a woman who had collapsed on his street.
He quickly rushed over, tried talking to her and checked her breathing.
Once he knew she was breathing, he rolled her on to her side with her head tilted back to keep her airway open.
Stephen then asked his mum to call an ambulance and stayed with the woman until it got there.
Stephen said, “I was a little nervous at first but I remembered what to do because I had learned it at first aid club.
“I think it is important to know what to do because we should all help each other. I am really proud of what I did.”
Stephen’s teacher Mrs Brown said, “He felt amazing afterwards and it was thanks to us that he had the confidence and skills to know what to do – that’s hugely rewarding.”
When your mum collapses: Hanna’s story
“She is a little girl, she is only ten and she wouldn’t have known what to do if she hadn’t been taught at school,” said Michelle Floyd.
But luckily, Michelle’s ten-year-old daughter Hanna took action quickly when she collapsed.
“She knew what to do because she said she had practised calling 999 at school,” Michelle said.
The call handler stayed on the phone and talked Hanna through the key actions.
Remembering what she had learned at school, Hanna moved Michelle to her side and tilted her head back to help keep her airway open. Hanna stayed calm and kept talking to and reassuring her mum.
The paramedics quickly arrived and took Michelle and Hanna to hospital. Michelle was so grateful that her daughter had known what to do. “Hanna was just amazing,” she said.
Hanna’s teacher Mrs Woodhead shared, “It’s a life skill that I think all children should know.”
I love being able to help people: Breck Primary School’s story

A first aid lesson at Breck Primary School, © British Red Cross
We’ve also found that children love learning first aid.
When teaching assistant Anita Wylie joined Breck Primary School, she made it her priority to introduce first aid learning into the classroom.
“I am passionate about the importance of teaching this valuable life skill to children,” Anita said.
Three-quarters of the pupils taught first aid at the school have already put their skills into practice. Most have helped friends and family with injuries like nosebleeds, burns and bleeds.
When we spoke to a group of eight- and nine-year-olds there about their first aid lesson, love was a word that came up again and again.
“I once did call an ambulance for my friend,” Emily shared. “I love being able to help people and I love first aid.”
Help children learn first aid in school
Now is a time to celebrate and a time to act.
If you want to teach first aid in your school, find out more about our online first aid resources.
Together, we can help all children learn the skills they need to save a life.
- Sign up to our first aid teaching pilot
- Explore our first aid teaching resources
- Support first aid learning for Welsh schools
*The findings come from an online survey of 2,004 adults in the UK conducted by Critical Research, in April 2017.
Oct 26, 2018 @ 17:24:03
I am very much in favour of these suggestion and give you my full support.
Feb 24, 2020 @ 07:03:49
First aid training enables young people to acquire basic life protection skills. According to a study from the University of Manchester, almost 59% of injury-related deaths could have been avoided if first aid had been provided before treatment. I recently my 14 year of niece in our nearest first aid training Vancouver center which goes by trhe name Metro Safety Training
Feb 25, 2020 @ 16:49:58
Thank you and we agree. You can find out all about first aid trainingon https://www.redcross.org.uk/first-aid
Mar 29, 2020 @ 14:53:31
Oh my God, am so much thrilled by the stories here. I learnt alittle first aid in my home science class and 3 yrs ago I helped a mentally challenged lady deliver her bouncing baby boy. I thank my homescience teacher for the info during her lesson.
May 14, 2020 @ 14:33:52
Wonderful for children to be taught first aid. I have witnessed children practicing on each other after being taught at their local brownies group.
Jun 08, 2020 @ 15:33:59
Its never to young or to old to be taught how to give first aid.The earliest First Aid training is introduced the more natural a reaction to respond when an emergeny arises.
Jun 11, 2020 @ 19:55:55
Thank you so much because of valuable tips. And I totally agree with first aid should be planned as a curriculum of a school by the government. I have got surprised with Stephan since his age. I am enthusiastic to help people a lot particularly while they ask a favor.
Jun 11, 2020 @ 19:58:45
Thank you so much It was completely beneficial for me. I totally agree with first aid should be planned as a curriculum of a school by the government. I have got surprised with Stephan since his age. I am enthusiastic to help people a lot particularly while they ask a favor.
Jul 27, 2020 @ 13:19:54
I am a nurse and have been involved in treating patients for over 30 years.
However I find it is still important for medical professionals and the public in general to learn basic first aid. I have said for many years it needs to be taught in schools and give people confidence in responding to anyone who needs help.
Taking part in a course with any first aid provider is a MUST!
Nov 17, 2020 @ 12:08:04
Thanking you… It’s really useful to our life. Now only I analysis howmach effective things have first aid.. It’s useful for everyone life.
Dec 27, 2020 @ 13:42:13
First is very important to our day to day life because you never can tell when an emergency may occure,so it is very important for everyone to learn basic first aid
Jan 17, 2021 @ 14:20:48
first aid should be on the national curriculum 100%
Jan 17, 2021 @ 14:23:08
first aid should be on the national curriculum for everyone too access
Feb 23, 2021 @ 18:30:06
Basic First AId should be taught in all schools as part of life skills
Mar 02, 2021 @ 17:38:41
Yeah basic first aid should be taught in all schools
Mar 04, 2021 @ 17:36:26
Beautiful. I am impressed to learn how knowledgeable and skilled these lovely children were and was able to save lives. Yes, its important that First Aid lessons and training become part of their curiculum.
Mar 09, 2021 @ 07:37:36
When young children can be trained on first aid at school imagine how safe the community will be. Here in Zambia little or nothing is known about First aid at schools, I wish the government can add first aid to school curriculum.
Mar 15, 2021 @ 13:08:17
First Aid should absolutely be in the curriculum.
Mar 15, 2021 @ 16:01:11
I have been able to use my first Aid skills several times over the years and I was so grateful I knew what to do to help.
Apr 10, 2021 @ 19:38:31
These stories are inspiring; the first aid course should be included in schools curriculum which ca save million lives by providing support during medical emergency
Apr 15, 2021 @ 10:17:49
I have been lucky enough to have used my First Aid Training on many occasions, the most useful part is being able to stay calm in a situation when most others around are panicking, take control and stay focused on the person who’s injured..
Get the onlookers to something, making them feel as though they are doing something helpful..