On February 11, European emergency number 112 will be highlighted, especially targeting children and youth, as part of the Red Cross Youth First Aid Campaign. According to Gaëlle Huysentruyt, manager of Jeugd Rode Kruis with Rode Kruis-Vlaanderen, many young children do not know the number by heart. "Children from the age of six are capable of alerting emergency services, but they can do much more," she states. For example, she notes, "A 13-year-old can effectively place someone in the recovery position or apply pressure bandaging. They just need to be taught."
The importance of reacting quickly during emergencies is particularly pressing. Incidents, like when mom falls down the stairs or grandpa becomes unresponsive, are when children often freeze, yet those first moments are key. To combat this lack of awareness, Rode Kruis-Vlaanderen is working hard to instill the significance of first aid skills among children and encourage adults to refresh their knowledge.
Part of this initiative is the production of a video by Jeugd Rode Kruis Brugge, which will serve as part of their social media campaign. Also being launched is an online game intended to educate both children and their parents about basic first aid principles. For younger kids, the focus will be primarily on calling 112 and accurately conveying information such as their location, the situation, and who is injured.
Rode Kruis-Vlaanderen conducts first aid training annually for around 2,500 children and teens. "Knowledge of first aid is included in secondary education curriculum goals," says Huysentruyt. "Yet during our training sessions, we often find younger people are unsure of what to do."
This educational drive is motivated by research indicating higher survival rates for cardiac arrests where first aid knowledge is prevalent. Huysentruyt cites figures from the Belgian Heart Rhythm Association: "Survival rates for cardiac arrest are four times higher in Germany than here, with both nations initiating resuscitation at similar frequencies. The difference is, Germans take part in first aid training sessions twice as often."
With their campaign, the aim is to make children aware of the importance of first aid from a young age, as well as encouraging adults to improve and update their skills frequently. The film prepared by Jeugd Rode Kruis Brugge is being employed to raise awareness.
What are some specific ways children and youth can contribute? The first step for the youngest involves knowing how to call 112 and provide clear information. "Teaching you child how to respond can truly save lives," Huysentruyt emphasizes. For teens and adults, regular reviews of first aid knowledge are encouraged, and the Red Cross also offers a free first aid app to assist with this.
Rode Kruis-Vlaanderen’s training initiatives outline what children and youth can learn at various age levels. Scientific foundations support these educational guidelines, showing what is appropriate for children at different stages and their capacity for absorbing this life-saving knowledge. Orange signifies introductory concepts, green shows skills they should know and be able to perform.