Compulsory Emergency First Aid Education (State-funded Secondary Schools) Bill

Debate between Tania Mathias and Peter Aldous

Friday 20th November 2015 Commons Chamber

[Dr Mathias]

rose—

[Peter Aldous]

I will give way to my hon. Friend the Member for South East Cornwall (Mrs Murray) first.

[Peter Aldous]

I thank my hon. Friend for that advice. I agree with her, but once a person acquires basic knowledge, it can stay with them for the remainder of their life.

[Dr Mathias]

rose—

[Peter Aldous]

I see that there is a doctor in the House; I look to her to take this forward.

[Dr Mathias]

Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the best tests of CPR training is that experiential feeling? Members who attended the British Heart Foundation showcase will know that, after training, a person knows the pressure required on Resusci Annie. The test is whether people use “Nellie the Elephant”, “Stayin’ Alive”— everybody listening will know what I am talking about—or have Vinnie Jones in their mind.

[Peter Aldous]

I agree wholeheartedly with my hon. Friend. The measures could save money. Funds for public services are, we hear, in short supply. The NHS faces significant pressures; why not relieve some of them? If, as a society, we all had a simple knowledge of first aid, it would provide some relief to accident and emergency units, and the people doing great work in them, and they could get on with the work they want to do.