Life-saving first aid skills will be taught to children in secondary schools from next year, the Government has announced.

The Department for Education will make it part of the National Curriculum for children to learn CPR and how to get help in an emergency.

The announcement has been welcomed by campaigners, including Colchester High Steward Sir Bob Russell and the town’s MP Will Quince.

Sir Bob campaigned vociferously for first aid to be added to the National Curriculum during his 18 years as Colchester’s MP.

In 1978, Sir Bob’s daughter, Joanne, died days after she fell during a gym lesson at school.

Sir Bob, who was chairman of an All Party Parliamentary First Aid group, said her teacher gave his daughter a fighting chance by administering first aid straight away.

He praised the Government’s announcement, but said there was still more to be done.

Sir Bob said: “What the Government is proposing is an important step, but it is only a tiny step.

“With first aid training in schools people go through their whole lives with these skills and they can become second nature to them.

“Teaching these lifesaving skills is important but there is more to first aid than resuscitation.

“We need to have first aid training from five-years-of-age where five-year-olds should be able to recognise and aid a nosebleed on themselves or someone else.”

Back in 2003 Sir Bob championed a bill in the House of Commons

By the end of secondary school all state-school pupils will be taught how to administer CPR, the purpose of defibrillators, and basic treatments for common injuries.

Mr Quince said the move would save lives.

“Myself and Bob have both campaigned on the issue as it is something we are both passionate about,” he said.

“By giving young people the ability, skills and confidence to act when first aid is necessary it does mean we are creating a new generation of life savers.

“It is going to save lives and take pressure off the NHS as well.

“It is something I have raised in Parliament, with ministers and I put in a Member’s Bill on first aid being in the driving test.”

He added: “It hasn’t been easy because of the amount of pressure on the curriculum.”

Will Quince spoke out in support of a Compulsory Emergency First Aid Education bill back in 2015

British Red Cross figures state up to 59 per cent of deaths from injury could be prevented if first aid is given.