Mandatory Resuscitation Training Introduced in NRW - Tomorrow's Lifeguards to be Trained Starting Tomorrow
In a groundbreaking move, the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia has announced plans to introduce mandatory Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training for students in lower secondary schools, starting from the 2025/2026 academic year. This initiative aims to equip young people with essential lifesaving skills, increasing the chances of saving lives in emergency situations.
Minister President Hendrik Wüst emphasised the importance of teaching young people early how to act correctly in medical emergencies, stating, "The goal is to train a generation that acts quickly, safely, and bravely in an emergency - and thus saves lives."
The CPR training will be a compulsory part of the curriculum for students in grades 7 to 9, and will take place in schools across the region. The training method used will be the "Check - Call - Compress" method, a practical and easy-to-learn technique.
The training session, which will last approximately 90 minutes, is part of a broader effort to improve emergency preparedness and empower young people with practical lifesaving knowledge early on in their education. The initiative is also designed to build a culture of readiness and immediate response within the community by equipping future generations with the competence and confidence to act in critical moments.
To ensure the success of this programme, the state government has signed a cooperation agreement with numerous medical partners, foundations, and organisations. These partners will provide educational materials such as videos, teaching manuals, and lesson units to support the CPR training. Among the partners involved are the German Heart Foundation, ADAC, the Björn Steiger Foundation, and medical chambers.
In addition, around 2,100 schools in North Rhine-Westphalia will be equipped with CPR mannequins for student training. To prepare teachers for the CPR instruction, they will receive comprehensive training starting from the 2025 school year.
Minister of Education Dorothee Feller compared CPR to riding a bike, stating, "It should become second nature." The cooperation agreement aims to firmly establish the topic of resuscitation in everyday school life, making it an integral part of the education system in North Rhine-Westphalia.
This move is part of ongoing efforts to permanently increase the rate of layperson resuscitation, making North Rhine-Westphalia a safer and more prepared community. For more detailed information about the curriculum implementation and timelines, we recommend checking the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Education or local education authorities.
- In line with this initiative, the state government is planning to incorporate 'science' lessons on health-and-wellness, focusing on the importance of CPR and its impact on saving lives.
- To further enhance the education of students, the North Rhine-Westphalia government is collaborating with various organizations in 'education-and-self-development' fields, such as the German Heart Foundation, to provide practical resources for learning 'fitness-and-exercise' techniques like CPR, fostering a culture of preparedness and responsibility.
