First-aid apps could teach children how to save lives
The Flemish education minister has launched two free apps that will be used in the classroom to teach children about life-saving first aid
Crucial lessons
StartnHart, developed by the University of Leuven, will help teachers show children how to carry out resuscitation. Een Adembenemende Picnic (A Breathtaking Picnic), created by the Belgian Resuscitation Council, aims to raise awareness about the importance of life-saving actions among children aged between six and 10. Both apps are funded by the government’s education department and are available on Android and iOS.
A new study by the Flemish Institute for Health Promotion and Sickness Prevention shows that first aid is taught in lessons in three out of four primary schools and in nine out of 10 secondary schools. In about half of the schools that offer first aid education, the teacher acts as the instructor. Tools like apps are not yet widely used.
Crevits has developed an action plan called First Aid in Education, featuring a website that helps schools organise first aid education, offers a list of partner organisations and gives examples of good practices. It also includes a list of organisations that train teachers.
Photo: Ingimage
