In the run up to Mother’s Day, the British Red Cross is teaming up with top British film actress and TV presenter, Amanda Holden, to back first aid education in schools across the UK.
Mum of two Amanda is supporting the charity’s Pupil Citizen Lifesaver (PCL) campaign which seeks to build a generation of citizens with life-saving skills.
She said: "Emergencies can happen to anyone, so I want my children and future generations to learn the skills to help in a crisis. That’s why I’m backing the Red Cross Pupil, Citizen, Life-saver campaign, which is fighting to make first aid and humanitarian education compulsory in schools.
“It’s so important we put these topics on England’s new curriculum. Simple skills learned in just a few minutes – like what to do if someone becomes unconscious – save lives,” Amanda added.
A recent ICM poll shows that only 20 per cent of secondary school students in England and Wales say they have learned life-saving skills in the classroom. Worryingly, just 4 per cent of the students would step up in aid of someone needing first aid assistance, according to the same survey.
The British Red Cross is encouraging people to visit its webpage redcross.org.uk/pupilcitizenlifesaver to sign up a petition that will urge the government to make first aid a key feature of children’s education.
Joe Mulligan, British Red Cross’ head of first aid, said: "This Mother’s Day, let’s do something that’s both special and incredibly important, by signing up the petition to help build a generation of lifesavers.
“We have a brief window to take action and make a change. The government’s proposals are now open to public consultation for the next few weeks. We have less than two months to shape the future lives of millions, by getting first aid into schools. Let’s all take action now,” Joe added.
