Birmingham boy calling for better CPR training in school after saving stepdad

A 16-year-old boy from Birmingham is calling for better CPR education in schools after stepping in to try and save his stepdad when he suffered a cardiac arrest in 2023.

It comes after almost 4 in 10 students say they haven’t received CPR training at school.

Remi who’s 16 said “I think all kids should know how to do it because if they ever get into that situation and not know what to do they’ll hate themselves for it.”

Remi who’s step-dad Dennis sadly couldn't be resuscitated is sharing his story as part of a campaign with the charity Resus Council UK as they urge the government to better support schools with CPR training.

After learning CPR training on his DofE programme Remi said:

“When I went to do CPR I kind of knew what to do so I went straight into it and that was definitely helpful, I didn’t really know what to think at the time, I didn’t really think it was real.”

Dennis’s partner Karen said:

“Ideally no child would ever have to go through it ever, but at least they’ll be prepared if they do have too.”

Since 2019, governments and local authorities across the UK introduced policies to ensure CPR is taught in secondary schools, however, the charity and partners have highlighted how there is currently no structured way to track whether this training is being delivered.

“I think schools just think it’s not that much of a problem or it’s not a common thing, so they shouldn’t have to waste time or money on it, but they definitely should, it wouldn’t go to waste," said Remi.

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