Education - First aid training at schools to be given more space
At schools in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, First Aid training for students is set to take up more space. Building on the 2016 project "Retten macht Schule" (Rescue makes school), the Education Ministry has now issued a guide for a basic course. From the coming school year onwards, students in classes seven and eight will be taught age-appropriate and instruction-aligned First Aid knowledge in the subjects of Biology and Sport.
"Often, simple inhibitions prevent helping in emergency situations. But this is lost when one knows how to help," said Education Minister Simone Oldenburg (Left) in Schwerin during the presentation of the program. With an unbiased attitude towards the helping willingness in young years, there is an opportunity to build more responsibility and civil courage for emergency situations.
The guide, developed in collaboration with the University Medicine Rostock and aid organizations, serves as a recommendation. Within a two-year model project, these could be implemented independently and voluntarily by interested schools. The instruction will take place in two modules, each lasting 90 minutes. The goal is the involvement of around 50 schools, but a higher number is also possible.
"Everyone can help. The earlier the training is done, the better."
"The initial reactions show that we can count on a great resonance," said Oldenburg. The costs for material acquisition, such as dummies for resuscitation exercises and heart massage, were estimated by her at approximately 2000 Euros per school, which should be financed by the respective sponsors. However, it was also possible to obtain foundation funds.
Gernot Rücker, a surgeon at the University Medicine Rostock, emphasized the importance of quick intervention in emergency situations. "Everyone can help. The earlier the training is done, the better," he said.
According to the experiences of the medical director of the Rettungsdienst Nordwestmecklenburg, Patricia Bunke, people often die because no one helps. "The uncertainty and inhibition threshold are often simply too great. Children and adolescents are very open to this topic and can learn and apply the right measures quickly," said Bunke.
"We are fire and flame for this project."
She has experienced this since years in the resuscitation training she gives at a school. "We, as doctors, always have the negative experience of what happens when no one helps. That's why it's a heartfelt matter for us to get First Aid into the wider public. We are fire and flame for this project," emphasized Bunke.
According to Oldenburg, the topic of learning, teaching, and applying First Aid already had a special significance in the project "Retten macht Schule" of the Björn-Steiger-Foundation from 2010 to 2016. In this period, approximately 300 teachers and 54,000 female and male students in the state were trained in this regard.
Since then, teachers have implemented projects on resuscitation in their own responsibility with the remaining exercise materials. However, these materials have meanwhile mostly worn out.
- The Education Ministry in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is planning to increase the focus on First Aid training in schools, particularly in Rostock.
- Simone Oldenburg, the Education Minister from Schwerin, highlighted the importance of overcoming inhibitions in emergency situations through proper training.
- The University Medicine Rostock and aid organizations collaborated to develop a guide for a basic First Aid course, which will be taught in Biology and Sport classes starting from the seventh grade.
- Oldenburg mentioned that the costs for materials such as dummies for resuscitation exercises could be covered by sponsors or foundation funds.
- Gernot Rücker, a surgeon at the University Medicine Rostock, emphasized the need for quick intervention in emergency situations and encouraged early training.
- According to Patricia Bunke, the medical director of Rettungsdienst Nordwestmecklenburg, children and adolescents are receptive to First Aid training and can quickly learn and apply the right measures in an emergency.
