Building resilience through education

PuPil>citizen>life-saver

How first aid and humanitarian education can fit into the national curriculum

As the government continues its wide-ranging review of the subjects taught in English schools, the British Red Cross is calling for first aid and humanitarian education to play a central role in the new National Curriculum. First aid skills save lives and reduce the impact of injuries, making a vital difference in various emergency situations. Humanitarian education tackles contemporary global issues from child soldiers to HIV, teaching young people to understand and respond to disaster and adversity whether it affects them or others. Covering these topics in the classroom will create stronger and more humane communities where people are willing and able to act when a crisis occurs. Messages of first aid and humanitarian education can be incorporated into existing curriculum subjects.

Theres no need to burden timetables with extra subjects. As the table below shows, first aid and humanitarian education can be included in existing core subjects, such as science or citizenship. By including them in lessons, schools will also be well placed to meet Ofsted requirements for health and safety which insist that within PE and science pupils learn about hazards and risks, and how to ensure the safety of themselves and others.

Level

Subject and topics in existing National Curriculum Science Hazards, risk assessment and taking action to reduce risks.

What relevant learning does first aid and humanitarian education deliver? Checking an area is safe, alerting an adult and calling for help, dealing with burns. Hygiene and shortages of food and clean water. Keeping yourself and others safe, spotting hazards and calling for help. How to treat unconscious people. Exploring assumptions and reflecting on values, respecting and listening to others. Recognising risk and developing empathy.

Key stages 1 and 2 Age 5-11

Personal, social, health, and economic education (PSHE) and Citizenship Healthy lifestyles and keeping safe, including basic road safety and people who help children stay safe. Developing good relationships and respecting the differences between people. Skills, attitudes and behaviour to cope with adversity. PE Fitness and health. Key Stages 3 and 4 Age 11-16 Science Assessing risk and working safely in the laboratory, field and workplace. The effect of diet, drugs and disease on health and behaviour. PE Making and applying decisions Recognising hazards and controlling risks. PSHE Recognising and managing risk, taking responsibility for choices and behaviour, making a positive contribution to families, schools and communities. As pupils explore similarities and differences between people, and discuss social and moral dilemmas, they learn to deal with challenges and accommodate diversity in all its forms. Pupils learn to manage new and difficult situations positively.

Fractures, sprains and strains, how to treat unconsciousness. Bleeding and shock, how to treat unconsciousness and burns. Climate change, hygiene and clean water, food and malnutrition, natural disasters, health (including pandemics and epidemics). Fractures, sprains and strains, how to treat unconsciousness.

Knowing when and how to get help, recognising specific illnesses and health problems including heart attacks, diabetes, asthma attacks, meningitis, epileptic seizures and choking. Migration and its impact on communities. Understanding different points of view and challenging the ideas of others. Decision making and taking appropriate action. Critical thinking.

Level

Subject and topics in existing National Curriculum Citizenship Rights and responsibilities, duties and freedoms and taking part in decision making. Laws, justice and democracy. Playing an active role in the life of schools, neighbourhoods, communities and wider society as a humanitarian and global citizen. History The significance of events, people and developments in their historical context and in the present day. Geography Questioning, investigation and critical thinking about issues affecting the world and peoples lives, now and in the future. Inspiring pupils to become global citizens by exploring their place in the world, their values and their responsibilities to other people and the planet.

What relevant learning does first aid and humanitarian education deliver? Emotional and social issues surrounding first aid and emergencies. Being a humanitarian citizen, respecting life and human dignity. International humanitarian law, migration, conflict and disasters. Decision making and taking appropriate action. Critical thinking. The history of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions and its protections for victims of armed conflict. The humanitarian impact of conflict, migration, natural disasters, climate change and the struggle to access food and clean water all explored through contemporary events in the UK and abroad. Critical thinking.

Key Stages 3 and 4 Age 11-16 continued

For information about the Pupil, citizen, life-saver campaign contact Daniel Rubio, Public Affairs Adviser on drubio@redcross.org.uk

British Red Cross 44 Moorfields London EC2Y 9AL Tel 0844 871 1111 Fax 020 7562 2000 redcross.org.uk Published 2012
The British Red Cross Society, incorporated by Royal Charter 1908, is a charity registered in England and Wales (220949) and Scotland (SC037738) Cover: Alex Rumford/BRC