10 Are prehospital deaths from trauma and accidental injury preventable? A summary report Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills 2008). The Department for Transport (DfT) British Road However, a new curriculum is currently being Safety Statement (2015) notes that around 1,700 developed in Wales. Pioneering schools have people die from road deaths per year in the UK been tasked with developing the new curriculum, (based on deaths between 2012 and 2014), which will abolish key stages and move closer and that from 2005 to 2014, the number of road to the Scottish model, where there is less formal deaths fell by 45 per cent, with 2013 seeing the assessment. Key themes in the proposed fewest deaths on Britain’s roads since records curriculum include Health and Well-being, within began in 1927. One of the reasons for this is noted which first aid could fit (Welsh Government 2016). as “better trauma care” (ibid. p.9). Health and Well-being is also present in Scotland’s ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ for all ages (Education The reduction in the number of road deaths is Scotland 2010). Personal Development and a huge success, but variations in risk do occur. Mutual Understanding (PDMU) at primary level Younger drivers are said to be “four times more and Learning for Life and Work at secondary likely to be killed or seriously injured compared level are relevant subjects for first aid to be taught with car drivers aged 25 or over” (ibid. p.14). in the Northern Irish curriculum (Council for the However, older drivers and passengers are “more Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment 2007). likely to die or sustain a severe injury than a younger adult in an accident of the same impact” In England, only 24 per cent of secondary schools (ibid. p.14). teach first aid – even though surveys have revealed that the overwhelming majority of teachers, It is clear from the Statement that road safety parents and young people across the UK believe management remains a priority. However, there they should learn first aid in school (British Heart are also a number of opportunities for first aid Foundation, British Red Cross, St John Ambulance education that do not currently feature in the 2015): Statement, which speaks of the need for a wider approach to saving lives than road safety alone > 97 per cent of teachers think it is vital for young – specifically, the opportunity to educate drivers people to learn essential first aid skills in school. and the ability of statutory and non-statutory organisations to respond in the event of an incident. > 95 per cent of parents agree that first aid should be taught at secondary school. Among the key priorities outlined in the Statement are: > 97 per cent of children aged 11 to 16 agree they should be taught first aid, saying it should either > “Ensuring that the driver testing and training definitely or probably be taught at secondary regime prepares new drivers for a wide range school. of real-life driving conditions and situations; In Europe, first aid is mandatory in Denmark, > Continuing our THINK! campaign to provide France, Germany, Italy and Norway for secondary- road user education and influence behaviour in school students (IFRC 2015). In Spain and France a targeted and engaging way; first aid is also compulsory for primary-school children. As a result, in Norway, for example, > Working in partnership with public- and private- around 95 per cent of the population are educated sector bodies and civil society organisations to in first aid (ibid.). save lives” (ibid. p.6-7). Road deaths “…every road death and serious injury is a tragedy that leaves a life ruined and a family shattered.” (Department for Transport British Road Safety Statement 2015, p.10) Hussain and Redmond (1994) reported that the main cause of death, in their study, was injuries sustained on the road. However, in the 22 years since their report, changes have been observed in the mechanism of injury, with the number of road deaths declining in the UK.