Basic Life Support (BLS) and First Aid are vital skill set which equips individuals with the knowledge to respond effectively during life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, choking or injuries. Teaching BLS and First Aid in schools to both educators and students is essential because it empowers educators and students to act quickly and responsibly in critical situations.
The Health and Safety Unit within the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation trained over four thousand (4,000) students and educators in Basic Life Support.
All Year 8 students are being trained in the basics of Basic Life Support. These include how to determine if a person is conscious and breathing, how to perform effective Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), how to help a person who is choking and how to place a person in the recovery position.
Year 10 students who are following a VET course in Health and Social Care or the King's Trust International Achieve Programme are receiving more detailed training on Basic Life Support and are being awarded a certificate valid for three years issued by the Health and Safety Unit in collaboration with the Malta Resuscitation Council.
Around seven hundred (700) students from various primary schools are receiving basic training in different aspects of health and safety when attending special sessions held at the Esplora Interactive Science Centre.
A number of educators from State, Church and Independent schools are also receiving training in Basic Life Support whilst a number of primary school educators were given training in Paediatric Basic Life Support, which focuses on the crucial skills required when helping children or infants. New equipment was used for these courses, which helped Paediatric Basic Life Support to be provided in an engaging and professional manner. Other Basic Life Support courses were organised for parents of students attending state schools.
Another course given by the Health and Safety Unit both to educators who are First Aiders as well as Year 11 students is training in Basic First Aid. Educators who attended the courses in Basic First Aid were issued a certificate by the Health and Safety Unit, while Year 11 students received a certificate from the Malta Red Cross. School First Aiders were also trained in Basic Life Support, and were also given a number of other courses regarding other aspects of First Aid.
The integration of training in Basic Life Support and First Aid is essential for building a safer community. The Health and Safety Unit remains committed to expanding these efforts by providing ongoing training for both educators and students. By ensuring that more individuals are equipped with the skills to respond effectively in emergency situations, the unit helps create an environment where informed actions can save lives. Through instruction and awareness, we move closer where every school is supported by well-prepared trained responders.