Call to teach kids lifesaving skills in school
CHILDREN in Wales should grow up with the knowledge to save the lives of people who would otherwise die.
That’s according to Conservative AM for South Wales West Suzy Davies and the majority of AMs have backed her.
She has proposed that it should be made law that children are trained in lifesaving skills as part of their school education.
She said her proposed Bill is designed to address the fact that in Wales nearly 8,000 people each year suffer a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting.
Mrs Davies said people who suffer cardiac arrest in Wales only have a 3% chance of survival compared with 50% in other parts of Europe, according to the charity Arrhythmia Alliance (A-A).
By making it a legal requirement for children to be trained in lifesaving skills such as CPR and the use of defibrillators, she believes that children and young people will grow up with the knowledge and confidence to help save the lives of people who might otherwise die – skills they can continue to use and develop into adulthood.
Under the Bill, children would also be trained to treat bleeding, choking and unconsciousness.
“Unfortunately, there are not enough people in Wales with the skills or confidence to give victims the best chance of survival during those first few critical minutes,” said Mrs Davies.
“I am pleased that I was able to persuade fellow Assembly Members that there is a real opportunity here to cultivate a new generation of confident lifesavers across Wales.
“The Welsh Government has been sent a clear message.
“I hope that in the future we will see them acting to bring legislation through, in one form or another, so that Wales really can become a nation of lifesavers.”