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Children could be taught to treat stab wounds and bleeds in school under new bill being debated by MPs today

From the Newshound archive · first published 16 October 2026 · last updated 17 October 2026.

Children could be taught to treat stab wounds and bleeds in school under new bill being debated by MPs today

Conservative MP Neil Shastri-Hurst is pushing a parliamentary bill that would require schools to teach children how to recognise and treat life-threatening bleeding from stabbings, car crashes or terror attacks. The Emergency and Life-Saving Skills (Schools) Bill is set for debate in Parliament on Friday but needs government backing to pass. Shastri-Hurst, a former British Army major and honorary trauma co-ordinator at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, says the training would plug a deadly gap. He warns a person can bleed out in four minutes — yet the average ambulance takes eight and a half minutes to arrive.

The bill would build on CPR lessons already in the curriculum, adding tourniquets and pressure techniques to pupils' skills.

Shastri-Hurst said he was inspired partly by the Southport attacks and Manchester Arena bombing, calling the training vital for 'national resilience'.

MoreThe IndependentChildren could be taught how to treat ‘life-threatening bleeding’ under proposed lawLBCChildren could get classes on how to treat bleeding in aftermath of stabbings or car crashesiNewsPupils may be taught to recognise 'life-threatening bleeding'RayoSolihull MP pushes bill to teach pupils life-saving bleeding control skills - Rayohttps://www.birmingham-now.co.uk/MP's bill could bring life-saving bleed control training to schools - https://www.birmingham-now.co.uk/AOL News UKChildren could be taught how to stop 'life-threatening' bleeding from stab wounds or car crashes in school
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