Teaching First Aid on Restart a Heart Day

Restart a Heart Day in October brings life-saving awareness to primary schools. Even young children can learn age-appropriate first aid basics, building confidence, empathy, and the knowledge that they can help in an emergency. This guide connects first aid teaching to statutory RSE and PSHE, embedding lifesaving skills into your pastoral curriculum.

Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere. Teaching primary pupils that they can recognise an emergency, call for help, and potentially save a life empowers them with agency and responsibility while building community resilience.

Age-Appropriate First Aid Teaching

EYFS and KS1 (Y1–2):

Focus on safety awareness and knowing how to get help. Teach pupils to recognise when an adult needs help, how to call for a trusted adult, and the basics of being safe. Stories and role play around recognising emergencies help this age group understand without causing anxiety.

KS2 (Y3–4):

Introduce the recovery position and simple first aid actions. Pupils can learn to place someone on their side if they're unresponsive, keep airways clear, and understand the importance of calling for adult help immediately. Practice on mannequins or classroom models to build confidence without fear.

KS2 (Y5–6):

Develop more detailed CPR awareness and practical first aid skills. These pupils can learn about chest compressions (even if they don't perform full CPR), understand the chain of survival, and practice calling 999 and giving clear information. Many pupils this age have the strength and maturity to assist with real first aid under adult guidance.

CPR Awareness and Chest Compressions

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a critical skill that everyone should understand, even if primary pupils don't perform it independently. Teach the concept: when someone's heart stops, chest compressions and rescue breaths can keep blood flowing to vital organs until emergency services arrive. Show videos of real CPR being performed. Use manikins to demonstrate correct hand placement and rhythm (often tied to a song like "Stayin' Alive" or "Another One Bites the Dust" to maintain a steady beat of 100–120 compressions per minute). Y5–6 pupils can learn to assist an adult performing CPR by fetching equipment or being ready to take over compressions.

Recovery Position and Calling 999

The recovery position—placing an unconscious person on their side with their airway clear—is a key first aid action. Practice this with pupils using manikins or soft toys. Discuss why this matters: it keeps the airway open and prevents choking. Then teach calling 999. What information do emergency responders need? Your location (address and postcode). What happened. Whether the person is breathing and responsive. The number of people involved. Practice calls in role play so pupils feel confident accessing emergency services. Connect this to PSHE learning about asking for and getting help.

Statutory RSE Links

"First aid education isn't just about emergency response—it's about teaching children to recognise vulnerability, show empathy, and take responsible action."

First aid teaching aligns with statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE). The curriculum requires pupils to understand basic health and safety, including how to recognise and respond to unsafe situations. First aid is about showing care for self and others, understanding that helping is a responsibility everyone can share, and recognising that adults and professionals are there to support. Discuss scenarios: what if a friend collapses at break time? What if you see someone fall? How do you ask a teacher for help? This connects first aid to emotional literacy and community responsibility.

Bring It to Life with a Workshop

For schools planning provision against the statutory framework, our complete first aid workshops for primary schools guide explains what compliance looks like and how to demonstrate it to inspectors.

While classroom discussion builds awareness, a hands-on workshop with a qualified first aid trainer creates muscle memory, confidence, and genuine preparedness. Pupils learn by doing, practising on real manikins with professional guidance, and building the confidence that they can act in an emergency.