Should children be taught First Aid and Self Defence at school.

[RATTER15]

Im talking about defence not attack!

I have just completed a course in Physical Intervention, a course that teaches breakaway techniques and how to restrain (without harming them) someone that may be attacking you or someone else.

I see these type of course far more beneficial than studying Religion or sport, sport and fitness can be undertaken outside of school as a non essential activity.

[tinkerbell23]

Absolutley re First aid...i posted a while ago and signed a petition...100% first aid....

Never thought about self defence? Would like to think on it some more...but my immediate reaction is yes ...x

[rockyracoon]

First Aid definitely yes, my daughter just completed a St John's Ambulance course at school. Self defence? maybe, but not at the expense of sport.

[cazzz1975]

I agree, 2 useful skills, My daughter did a course in judo last term and really enjoyed it.

[RATTER15]

Rocky, why not at the expense of sport? I accept that many kids love sport, but I don't really think it is educational, self defence is far more important, surely?

[mike11111]

As a veteran teacher I would argue that it is the teachers themselves, rather than the children, who need to be taught the rudiments of self-defence.

[RATTER15]

Mike I agree, but also the children need to be taught.

[rockyracoon]

I just don't think self defence is as important as other sports, it could be done as a non essential activity. I think kids learn more valuable lessons about team work in regular sport where as self defence is more isolated. Just my opinion though ;)

[NOX]

Yes and yes. My kids were home educated but were taught both these skills along with other useful things like sign language and survival skills.

[237SJ]

I`ve long said kids should be taught first aid. The finer details keep changing (compression/breath ratios) and they wouldn`t be able to be kept up to date but the basics would always remain the same and be invaluable.
Breakaway techniques (some of them) would be useful. The moves are easy to forget though. Our Restraint usually starts with an element of surprise - chuck a blanket over them and be ready with the Quick-cuffs.

[boxtops]

We are taught at work how to defuse a situation and to recognise the signs of potential attack, the breakaway training is only available to people working in situations like ratter's/

[craft1948]

I think sport should be an essential part of education. It teaches you discipline, self-worth, and team spirit.

[Traci66]

Definitely first aid, saying that my daughter has to do regular first aid courses for her job, after she had completed her first one, hubby managed to stick a knife in his hand and she was the first one to go running from the room screaming about blood, I didn't run, I was too busy washing the blood of the walls as the kitchen had only been decorated the week before.

[woofgang]

Craft, it only teaches you those things if you enjoy it or are okay at it. It taught me that I was a clumsy useless klutz that nobody wanted on their team.

[craft1948]

Different stories then woofgang. My best mate at school was great at all sports but I was not. It made me more determined to work harder to win places in the various teams.

[horseshoes]

100% agree with Craft.

[horseshoes]

oops sorry didn't answer OP question. First Aid - yes I think they would benefit from learning it, but possibly as Extra Curricular (I went to Red Cross circa 1960), as it would be at the expense of something else otherwise. Self defence? don't think so.

[woofgang]

Craft I have no problem with team sports in schools provided they aren't the only option and the ones who aren't good at it aren't bullied as a consequence.

[China Doll]

I was also useless at sports. Looking back, I do wonder if the difficulties I have now in my hips were perhaps not at work when I was younger, I often had knee pain (I have that now but it's actually part of the hip thingy apparently) but was either put down to growing pains or laziness... given that I was growing and I am particularly idle when I want to be, it would really be a tough one to call! ;o) I was utterly useless at atheletics, my ball skills are on a par with that tinned tuna fish, my balance and co-ordination are at the same level as my tact and diplomacy.... I know I sound modest but i assure you it's true.

However, I am a very good swimmer and the small amount of martial arts I've done I seem to have a little flare for. I would have loved to have done more martial arts from a young age in school. As it was, whenever we did do it then it was only cause someone had come to the school for the afternoon or somthing, my mum couldn't really afford to send me to any of the local clubs. I believe martial arts do teach you disapline, self respect and self worth.

I also agree that first aid should be taught to kids. It should be taught to as many people as possible really.

[Sqad]

CD

\\ I often had knee pain (I have that now but it's actually part of the hip thingy apparently) \\\

That story was and is more common than you would think, the probable being that you had Perthes Disease as a child which was not diagnosed. Hip disease is often manifested by knee pain and called, for want of a better term "growing pains." This situation lends itself to early osteo-arthritis of the hip.

[Robinia]

Yes to first aid and maybe a certain amount of self defence...anyone wanting to persue it could join an out of school class.

All sport taught me was worry and a feeling of inadequacy...I wasn't a lazy child, far from it, with the possible exception of badminton, which we didn't do often enough, I just wasn't good at it.