Call for CPR to be taught in schools

Children should learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to equip them to save lives for the rest of their lives, politicians have been told.

RCN congress passed a resolution calling on UK governments to mandate the teaching of CPD to schoolchildren, saying that the immediate action of bystanders was vital to increase  cardiac arrest survival rates.

Impact

Dumfries and Galloway branch’s Valerie Douglas, a lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland, told congress in Glasgow last month: ‘The cost of teaching children CPR is low but the impact would be tremendous. It might save your life or a child’s.’ 

However, there were warnings that it would take longer to help children understand the implications of an unsuccessful resuscitation attempt and concern that such children would not receive adequate support.