The Courier’s campaign to create an army of lifesaver has reached new heights as Nicola Sturgeon has announced her support for the campaign.
The Scottish Government have been under pressure to implement the campaign as politicians from across the political divide have now lent their support to The Courier’s campaign.
Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw, Scottish Labour boss Richard Leonard, Green co-convener Patrick Harvey and Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Willie Rennie all offered their support for the campaign.
‘Absolutely essential’: Scottish MSPs back The Courier’s First Aid Kids campaign
Dozens of parliamentarians also backed the campaign at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday.
Despite the First Minister’s support, there is still more work to do as the government are yet to implement first aid training across the education spectrum in Scotland, as thousands of youngsters are not being taught the lifesaving skills.
School pupils in England will learn the lifesaving techniques from September as part of an initiative to boost cardiac arrest survival rates, as statistics estimate chances of survival could triple if implemented.
VIDEO: Nicola Sturgeon backs The Courier’s First Aid Kids campaign
Under the plans, all schools children in Scotland would be equipped with the necessary skills to save a life.
Speaking in Dundee at the opening of the city’s new £32 million Regional Performance Centre yesterday, Ms Sturgeon said: “I am very happy to support the principle of The Courier’s First Aid Kids campaign.
“We don’t have a mandatory curriculum in Scotland but it’s really important that we encourage schools to make young people aware of the importance of first aid and equip people with the skills they need so I commend The Courier’s for this campaign and wish it every success.”
Over the week, the campaign has shared the harrowing tales of families who know only too well the difference first aid knowledge can make.
Four-year-old Cameron Gilmour, who has cerebral palsy and is non-verbal, would not be here today if it wasn’t for heroic first-aider Sam Hampton who rushed to his rescue after a tonsil infection blocked his airways.
Following Ms Sturgeon’s declaration, a local SNP MP has joined the swathe of politicians calling for first aid to be taught as part of the school curriculum in Scotland.
Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire said: “I’m delighted to back The Courier’s First Aid Kids campaign and I am really pleased that it is receiving widespread attention across the political spectrum.
“Politicians may disagree on somethings, but I think we can all agree that teaching pupil’s lifesaving skills is a very worthwhile cause.
“You just never know when first aid skills will be needed and having this taught at schools could quite literally be a life saver.”
