Tuesday August 27, 2024 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Starting in this 2024-2025 school year, all students in BC will be required to learn how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
That was announced today by BC Premier David Eby along with Minister of Education and Child Care Rachna Singh, at a media session in Vancouver (watch the livestream).
CPR will be required learning prior to graduation. The BC Ministry of Education and Child Care says that 90% of public secondary schools already offer CPR learning.
This year the Province will start working with school districts and education partners to include mandatory CPR learning in all secondary schools, the Ministry says, adding that discussions will be held with education partners about the process and timelines to have CPR learning place.
Some key considerations are hold to provide CPR learning in remote communities or where those are taking courses online. There will need to be accommodations for students with diverse disabilities, according to the Ministry of Education and Child Care.
Earlier this summer, the Ministry was asked by Island Social Trends as to whether on/around water lifesaving skills are mandatory in schools. The reply was that the province can only mandate things that can be offered by all schools across the province.
What is CPR?:
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency treatment that’s done when someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. For example, when someone has a heart attack or nearly drowns. Among youth it might also be helpful regarding substance use that goes wrong. CPR can help save a life.
The Heart & Stroke Foundation offers CPR training as does the Canadian Red Cross.
Part of a healthy kids approach:
This is apart of a larger effort to keep kids safe and healthy, the Ministry states in a news release today.
Also announced was the mandatory non-use of cell phones ‘from bell to bell’ during school instruction hours, including on playgrounds; protecting students and staff from harassing protesters through implementation of access zones around schools; protecting children from online predators and extortion; and creating and expanding school food programs through a $314-million investment.
This will save lives:
“This decision by the BC Government to provide mandatory CPR training in schools is a very important decision that will saves lives in the future,” says Langford Fire Chief Chris Aubrey.
“The more people in a society who know how and when to start CPR, the more likely someone will act in those crucial moments before parademics arrive,” says a Ministry of Education and Child Care spokesperson.
The training will be provided in coordination with Indigenous and education partners, along with health and safety training organizations with CPR expertise. This engagement will also explore student learning about automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and Naloxone, the Ministry says.
The Ministry wants these important lifesaving skills taught as soon as possible. However, the Ministry adds: “It will take some time to ensure that all schools, including those in remote regions, are equipped to deliver meaningful learning to all students.”
===== RELATED:
- ICBC offers back-to-school tips for drivers, parents & pedestrians (August 24, 2024)
- Lifesaving equipment at lakes & skills in BC education (July 13, 2024)
- Langford installs life rings at local lakes (July 6, 2024)
- Smartphones off ‘from bell to bell’ in BC classrooms (January 27, 2024)
- NEWS SECTIONS: K-12 EDUCATION | BC PROVINCIAL ELECTION