Essential life saving skills.

[John59]

You are bang on, personally i think learning to swim /water survival and basic first aid should be mandatory on all schools weekly curriculums from year 1 until you leave education. Within a generation we would have an army of first responders that would save many lives, possibly, including their own. I have been on many first aid courses and virtually every one has new updated methods which i don't really understand how the basics can change over a relatively short period of time

I’m pretty sure in the 1970s it was.
In York anyway!
We were taken every week or so when in junior school to th pool to learn to swim and work towards Bronze , Silver and gold swimming survival badges.
I still have my 4 badges still and you were given sew on patches to put on your track suit jacket! lol

 

[The Frightful]

I’m pretty sure in the 1970s it was.
In York anyway!
We were taken every week or so when in junior school to th pool to learn to swim and work towards Bronze , Silver and gold swimming survival badges.
I still have my 4 badges still and you were given sew on patches to put on your track suit jacket! lol

Yes swimming in Sidcup Kent too in the late 60s early 70s

 

[Stew]

Swimming is part of the national curriculum.

 

[Broch]

Unfortunately, not actually taught by the schools around here. All my grandchildren have learnt to swim but only because their parents paid for and took them to after school swimming lessons.

 

[William_Montgomery]

Just having had a quick look online, it seems (in England) by the time a child leaves primary school they are required to; be able to proficiently swim at least 25 metres, use a range of strokes effectively and be able to perform safe 'self-rescue' in different water-based situations.

I'd be interested to find out what the 'self-rescue' part of that consists of.

 

[Broch]

Many, many, kids don't know how to measure using a rule/ruler when they leave primary school let alone swim or self-rescue

 

[Wildgoose]

Self rescue is a number of things, treading water for a set time, floating on your back as well as climbing out of a pool using “elbow, elbow, belly, knee”

Both my boys, 5 and 3 (terrible names I know) learnt it in paid for lessons

 

[The Frightful]

Swimming is part of the national curriculum.

I have 4 grandchildren in the UK, 15,11,7, and 3 the eldest were not taught how to swim and had to go private. I vaguely remember them going swimming at school but it was only a few times im sure just to tick boxes. Certainly not a weeky tutored lesson

 

[Tengu]

Thanks to our Schools chilly, miserable pool, I swim like a cat does; with pathological hatred of the water.

 

[TeeDee]

I think I'll add how to recognise and treat both Hyperthermia and Hypothermia. I think that would make sense.

 

[Stew]

I have 4 grandchildren in the UK, 15,11,7, and 3 the eldest were not taught how to swim and had to go private. I vaguely remember them going swimming at school but it was only a few times im sure just to tick boxes. Certainly not a weeky tutored lesson

I can’t speak for the competency of any particular schools, just pointing out that it is on the national curriculum, as is first aid. Lots of people say that it needs to be there when it is already.
Now, I can agree that it could be better but then so could the literacy, numeracy, etc, etc.

 

[William_Montgomery]

Many, many, kids don't know how to measure using a rule/ruler when they leave primary school let alone swim or self-rescue

It's part of the national curriculum in England, but not Wales or Scotland. So I understand.

 

[Broch]

I quote from swimming.org:

<Since 2012 Swim England has monitored the provision of curriculum swimming and water safety in primary schools, and pupil attainment.

Research has consistently shown that only half of pupils meet the required standards.>

But, as Stew says above, teaching of all subjects is stretched.

 

[William_Montgomery]

Yes, of course. I expect it varies quite dramatically across the country.

 

[William_Montgomery]

Basic self-defence, including specifics such as defending against physically stronger assailants, knife attacks and dog attacks. Perhaps with a simple understanding of body language in those situations.

 

[dwardo]

The basics of thermodynamics. How insulation works and how to stay warm.

Clothing, sleeping mats, sleeping bags dont MAKE you warm they keep you warm.

Wont even mention that leaving the bedroom and bathroom windows open with the heating on is pointless!!

 

[Aristotle]

Some thoughts on Life Skills.

First and foremost:
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS!

I like to keep in mind Georges Hebért’s Natural Method: “être fort pour être utile” (be strong to be useful)

“In the purely physical sense, the Natural Method promotes the qualities of organic resistance, muscularity and speed, towards being able to walk, run, jump, move on all fours, to climb, to keep balance, to throw, lift, defend yourself and to swim”.

So many adults, in the UK are in a woeful physical condition, incapable of fairly normal tasks/rescuing themselves/others and are not in good general health (physically or mentally). I would suggest that these things are often very closely linked. Many people have never developed physical strength, endurance, skills, resilience (coping with discomfort), confidence. Look after yourself.


Basic cooking and nutrition.

Situational awareness, social skills, confidence, don’t look like a victim.

First Aid

Basic sewing

A basic understanding of technology. Mechanics, electrics, electronics, digital comms, IT. -how to diagnose and repair simple faults, make things

Basic navigation -working out where you are, where you need to get to and which direction you are heading in.

Coping with boredom/without electronic entertainment.

Driving attentively, courteously and smoothly/with mechanical sympathy in all conditions.

How to survive an unexpected night in the outdoors. Build a fire, how to build a shelter, reading the terrain/weather/conditions, not being frightened of the dark, getting to help

Shooting -not only for the act of hitting target or hunting, but for the discipline, spatial awareness and focus required.

 

[TeeDee]

Some thoughts on Life Skills.

First and foremost:
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS!

I like to keep in mind Georges Hebért’s Natural Method: “être fort pour être utile” (be strong to be useful)

“In the purely physical sense, the Natural Method promotes the qualities of organic resistance, muscularity and speed, towards being able to walk, run, jump, move on all fours, to climb, to keep balance, to throw, lift, defend yourself and to swim”.

So many adults, in the UK are in a woeful physical condition, incapable of fairly normal tasks/rescuing themselves/others and are not in good general health (physically or mentally). I would suggest that these things are often very closely linked. Many people have never developed physical strength, endurance, skills, resilience (coping with discomfort), confidence. Look after yourself.


Basic cooking and nutrition.

Situational awareness, social skills, confidence, don’t look like a victim.

First Aid

Basic sewing

A basic understanding of technology. Mechanics, electrics, electronics, digital comms, IT. -how to diagnose and repair simple faults, make things

Basic navigation -working out where you are, where you need to get to and which direction you are heading in.

Coping with boredom/without electronic entertainment.

Driving attentively, courteously and smoothly/with mechanical sympathy in all conditions.

How to survive an unexpected night in the outdoors. Build a fire, how to build a shelter, reading the terrain/weather/conditions, not being frightened of the dark, getting to help

Shooting -not only for the act of hitting target or hunting, but for the discipline, spatial awareness and focus required.

I'll add Celestial navigation and daytime navex to the list but I can't honestly remember the last time I needed to use it - just a easy to learn 'trick' - equally i can't remember the last time I HAD to tie a bowline - but again better to have the skills and not need them as opposed to the reverse.

 

[Ozmundo]

I am feeling bitchy today!

As several people have posted, situational awareness. Recognition of risk and responding to it without creating greater hazards.

There is an accident black spot I pass regularly. At every crash I have seen there are folks standing in the carriageway. Seemingly "trying to help" by flapping stupidly, just dangerous idiots who are diluting the gene pool.

1) A willingness to assist is laudable but then comes that actual skills set many people don't have the ability to analyze and then realize they need to step away.

I encounter loose live stock on a country road at night. Yes I should call the police, stop and use my hazard lights. But getting out and trying to herd them back where I think they came from probably deserves whatever unfortunate result comes my way.

2) The other side of this coins is people not giving a monkeys and ignoring clear problems where simply raising the alarm may have saved a life or improved the outcome for someone.

The first problem is lack of intelligence the second one empathy. Education and training can improve the first one. For the second they can always go into politics.

Is the Ridgeway school still going?

 

[RonW]

And I would add proper reading, writing and calculus skills plus real critical thinking.
Grow a thicker skin, learn to accept opposing views and scrap that blasted victimhoodcult.