By Q Radio News
From today resuscitation and defibrillator skills will be a mandatory part of the school curriculum in Northern Ireland.
Education Minister Michelle McIlveen says the changes are part of a wider package to provide training and resources to support the rollout of CPR training in schools at Key Stage 3.
Schools will be required to teach the skills as part of Learning for Life and Work lessons from September.
Welcoming the changes the Minister said: “CPR is a critical and potentially life-saving skill. We know that providing CPR training within the school curriculum can have a clear and measurable impact on survival rates.
“My Department will be writing to schools to remind them of this new requirement and outlining the support we will provide to them.”
The Department of Education is working with educational partners and key stakeholders including the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.
Fearghal McKinney the Head of BHF in Northern Ireland said:
''Every day in Northern Ireland people tragically die because bystanders don't have the confidence or knowledge to perform CPR and defibrillation.
''We know that in other countries where children are taught CPR in school, cardiac arrest survival rates are higher.
“With the right support for schools, today’s change to the curriculum promises to improve the odds of survival for countless people who have a cardiac arrest in the future.”
Pictured left to right: Denise McAnena, British Heart Foundation, Faith Chitwekwe, Head Girl Wellington College, Education Minister Michelle McIlveen MLA, Ryan McCarroll, Head boy Wellington College and Stephanie Leckey, NI Ambulance Service
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