Year 4 RSHE Lesson – Basic First Aid (Emergencies and Getting Help)

This engaging and age appropriate Year 4 Basic First Aid RSHE lesson strengthens pupils’ ability to recognise emergencies, assess risk, and respond calmly and responsibly. Designed for lower Key Stage 2, this health education resource builds on earlier learning and develops greater independence in identifying serious situations while maintaining clear safeguarding boundaries.

What Pupils Will Learn:

• What first aid is and why early action can prevent situations from getting worse
  
• The difference between minor injuries and medical emergencies
  
• Key warning signs of an emergency, including unconsciousness, non responsiveness,
• difficulty breathing and serious bleeding
  
• Why head injuries must always be reported and monitored carefully
  
• How to assess whether a situation is safe before acting
  
• When it may be necessary to call 999
  
• What information emergency services need
  
• Why only real emergencies require a 999 call
  
• Why filming an incident is inappropriate and harmful
  
• The importance of staying calm and reassuring others

What’s Included:

• Ready to use PowerPoint lesson presentation
  
• Clear, structured explanations suitable for eight and nine year olds
  
• Scenario based discussions exploring real world situations
  
• Critical thinking questions to deepen understanding
  
• Step by step guidance on communicating with emergency services
  
• Strong safeguarding and digital responsibility messaging

Real Life Scenarios Covered:

• A person who is unconscious or not responding
  
• Someone experiencing difficulty breathing
  
• A serious head injury in the playground
  
• Bleeding that appears significant
  
• Minor cuts, grazes and bumps that require adult support
  
• Being present when no adult is immediately visible
  
• Choosing whether to help or record an incident on a phone

Key Reflection Points:

• What makes a situation a genuine emergency
  
• Why checking for danger protects everyone
  
• How clear and calm communication supports emergency services
  
• Why it is important to report incidents rather than film them
  
• The responsibility of being a helper rather than a bystander
  
• The importance of reassuring someone who is hurt

Perfect For:

• Year 4 RSHE or PSHE lessons
  
• Lower KS2 Health Education coverage
  
• Safeguarding and risk awareness education
  
• Digital responsibility discussions
  
• Whole school safety initiatives
  
• Building clear progression from Year 3 emergency awareness

Why Schools Choose This Lesson:

✓ Supports statutory Health Education requirements
✓ Develops deeper emergency recognition skills
✓ Reinforces safeguarding and personal boundaries
✓ Encourages responsible mobile phone behaviour
✓ Promotes calm, ethical and practical decision making
✓ Ready to deliver with structured discussion prompts

Learning Outcomes:

This lesson enables pupils to identify clear signs of a medical emergency, understand the importance of safety checks, and communicate accurate information to emergency services when required. Pupils develop the confidence to act responsibly and calmly in serious situations while recognising that medical treatment and first aid intervention remain the responsibility of trained adults and professionals.