Ratfink (Australia)

At the Highschool I attended most students were taught first aid, either as a St John's Ambulance course or as part of the Army Cadets or surf lifesaving "Bronze Medallion". I did it twice, once in Cadets and then while doing my Bronze Medallion (age 14). Basic skills were taught including CPR and general bandaging, recovery position etc, dealing with epileptic episodes etc. I am all in favor of high school students or middle school students learning basic first aid and having a refresher course every year. It only needs 8-10 hours a year to teach.

A foreign woman conducts external chest compression for Jin Bo at Hujialou underground station in Beijing on Wednesday. [Photo from web]