Hesse starts mandatory resuscitation courses for schools: lifesavers in training!

Hesse starts mandatory resuscitation courses for schools: lifesavers in training!

On November 5, 2025, a new and urgently needed step in education will be taken in Hesse: compulsory teaching in resuscitation in secondary schools. The aim of this initiative is to improve the layperson resuscitation rate in Germany, which is considered shockingly low in international comparison. Every year, over 65,000 people die as a result of sudden cardiac death, which underlines the urgency, as herzstiftung.de reports.

In the 2024/2025 school year, lessons are to be introduced in all seventh grades in Hesse and be anchored across the board by the end of the legislative period. In the current school year 2025/2026, 390 of 721 secondary schools are already equipped with resuscitation classes, which reaches around 60,000 students. Education Minister Armin Schwarz and representatives of the Björn Steiger Foundation and the German Heart Foundation recently demonstrated this important offer at the Freiherr vom Stein School in Eppstein.

Practical learning for more safety

The lessons not only impart basic medical knowledge, but also practical skills and a sense of responsibility. The “check, call, push” method is the focus, with the initial focus on chest compressions. The goal is to avoid inhibitions by not initially discussing the issue of breathing. Each participating school receives twelve resuscitation manikins to support them, and teachers can also take part in classroom training to deepen their own skills.

The initiative is supported by well-known cooperation partners such as the German Heart Foundation, the Björn Steiger Foundation and several aid organizations such as ASB, DLRG and DRK. This approach could also inspire other federal states to develop similar projects to raise awareness of life-saving measures.

Current series highlights on Netflix

In addition, the miniseries “Like Lightning” about James Garfield and the South Korean suspense series “You were there” tell captivating stories that are based on different historical and cultural foundations. For all darker souls there is also the Indian horror film “Baramulla”, which focuses on a police officer’s investigation into a child abduction case.

Whether education or entertainment - recent developments offer both young people and series lovers plenty of food for thought and enjoyment. Those interested can also find further information on resuscitation measures in the comprehensive database on revival.