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take action
The government is currently reviewing all subjects that are taught in the curriculum. Please help by joining our campaign to ensure first aid and humanitarian education have a secure place in classrooms of the future.

PuPil>citizen>life-saver
Building resilience through education

Please act now go to redcross.org.uk/advocacy

1. Add your name to our pledge. 2. Email your MP. 3. Write to your local head teacher and ask them to look at our educational resources at redcross.org.uk/education.

British Red Cross 44 Moorfields London EC2Y 9AL Tel 0844 871 1111 Fax 020 7562 2000 redcross.org.uk Published 2011
The British Red Cross Society, incorporated by Royal Charter 1908, is a charity registered in England and Wales (220949) and Scotland (SC037738)

All statistics from: Right Place, Right Time (British Red Cross research report, 2011) Teaching Materials research report (DJS Research, 2011) British Red Cross first aid survey, 2009

Cover and page 5: Photos Alex Rumford/BRC Page 2 and 4: Photos Bob Collier/BRC Page 6 and 7: Photos Stephen Latimer/BRC Page 9: Photos Laura Mtungwazi/BRC Page 11: Photos Alex Maguire/BRC

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Why

first aid and humanitarian education

belong in the classroom

Education isnt and shouldnt be just about reading, writing and maths. At its core, education should also be about gaining practical knowledge that will help people to be more confident, willing and able to help in a crisis. And what could be more practical than learning how to save someones life? Schools provide an ideal forum for learning to cope with adversity and thats why the Red Cross has already spent over five years helping teachers in the classroom. We believe that first aid and humanitarian education should have a secure place on the school curriculum.

there is a good variety of activities, pitched at the right level, and the red cross teaching resource is clearly aiming to empower pupils rather than just inform
Linda McGlone, Primary school teacher, Scotland

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the case for

first aid education

Just seven per cent of the UK population feel they would have the skills to help someone in an emergency. First aid saves lives and reduces the impact of serious injuries, such as burns and bleeding. The classroom provides an ideal forum for learning first aid skills, and age need not be a limit our new research shows children as young as five are able to learn and remember life-saving skills. The vast majority of Britains teachers (83 per cent) and parents (98 per cent) support a move to include first aid on the curriculum.

it was a great learning experience. i think this kind of thing should be taught more often. its real life. it makes people think and shows that things arent simple
Pupil (15) Bannerman High School, Glasgow

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the case for

humanitarian education

Humanitarian education helps young people make sense of the world around them and encourages them to change it for the better. By exploring contentious issues such as conflict, disasters and health, it brings challenging themes into the heart of the classroom. In this way, pupils can develop an understanding of humanitarian issues and learn skills that will help build resilience. Over 90 per cent of citizenship and PSHE teachers support a focus on building resilience in children and young people across both primary and secondary schools.

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the facts

98% 83%
of British parents of Britains teachers

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In 2010, British Red Cross first aid and humanitarian education programmes reached 347,000 children and young people.

want first aid to become part of the school curriculum.

Last year, there were over 30,000 downloads of Red Cross free teaching materials from redcross.org.uk/education

98% 97%
of primary school teachers of secondary school teachers

...agree that building resilience is important to cover in school lessons.

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How the red cross can help

The Red Cross first aid educational resources specially designed so both primary and secondary teachers can deliver them in the classroom with no prior training have made first aid easier than ever to learn. redcross.org.uk/lifeliveit Our humanitarian education teaching materials help teachers tackle difficult and important subjects in the classroom, helping students to develop their critical faculties and build resilience. redcross.org.uk/education In the past few years, 46 per cent of secondary schools and 28 per cent of primary schools have used one of the Red Cross global humanitarian educational resources. redcross.org.uk/advocacy

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