CPR @ School
The European Resuscitation Council (ERC) is committed to improving populations’ readiness to respond to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). While Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can be taught at any age, the earlier individuals are trained in resuscitation, the more practice, awareness, and confidence they have in an emergency situation. Children from age six can make a difference in the survival of SCA victims, suggesting that the lifelong learning process should be started as early as possible.
Across Europe, initiatives have been launched to familiarise school-aged children with the necessary skills and knowledge to act in the face of an SCA. They can be taught how to recognise the signs of SCA, how to contact emergency services, and intervene by practicing CPR and using and AED. Schools, sports, and youth groups offer a convenient forum for this training as they gather young people in an educational setting.
CPR training fits naturally into the well-rounded education these institutions aim to provide, helping young people become responsible members of their community from a young age.
The ERC also placed a strong emphasis on youth engagement by developing a new Toolkit for Youth CPR Education Initiatives. This resource is designed to support National Resuscitation Councils (NRCs) in promoting local advocacy efforts, offering good practices and practical strategies to advance CPR education among young people. The toolkit aims to empower a new generation of confident life-savers across Europe.