Calls for stricter measures to make sure schools are teaching CPR
Campaigners are concerned many students across Staffordshire and Cheshire are leaving without ever learning it
New research commissioned by the charity Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) has uncovered worrying gaps in CPR education in UK secondary schools - highlighting that thousands of students are missing out on the opportunity to learn this vital lifesaving skill.
Since 2019, governments and local authorities across the UK introduced policies to ensure CPR is taught in secondary schools, however, the charity and partners have highlighted how there is currently no structured way to track whether this training is being delivered.
Without proper monitoring and support, too many students are leaving school without learning how to save a life.
"It should be an industry standard now especially because of pressures and ambulance service wait times." said Chloe Minter, student paramedic in Staffordshire.
"I'd say start at 5 and go up. I've known children who've done it at 4 and 5 years old, you just say two hands on the chest and push. Simple as that."
A cardiac arrest is the ultimate medical emergency, the heart stops beating, and the individual is clinically dead. Early CPR can double the chances of survival - making it essential that as many people as possible, including young people, have the confidence to act in an emergency.
Chloe used CPR to save her best friends life after she collapsed on a night out in Nantwich. She told us how people were climbing over her friend and assuming she was passed out or intoxicated, but Chloe realised something wasn't right and her training kicked into gear.
"I learnt at 13 because of army cadets but you can learnt at any age. I think all employers should also teach it, but definitely all schools should be teaching it from a very young age. I think there's no limit on the age to be honest.
"It's an hour of training that the schools should do, it really wouldn't take long."
New research commissioned by RCUK reveals that an astounding 91% of parents believe the government should do more to support schools in delivering CPR training. However...
:: Almost 4 in 10 students (38%) say they haven't received CPR training at school
:: Over 70% of those students trained in CPR say they would feel confident to act in an emergency, highlighting the critical need for CPR education in schools.
To improve CPR training rates in schools, RCUK and partners are asking governments, local councils and education inspectorates across the UK to work with stakeholders to:
:: Embed CPR training within existing school inspection and improvement frameworks to ensure consistent delivery and help assess and encourage provision where appropriate.
:: Facilitate collaboration across devolved nations with local authorities and education providers to sustain progress and share good practice.
:: Promote existing guidance and accessible resources to support schools and teachers in delivering CPR training.
Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.