DRK to Offer Self-Defense Training for Kindergarten and School Children - Red Cross Pushes Self-Defense Training for NRW Kids as Young as Preschoolers

The Red Cross in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is advocating for children to learn self-defense skills from a young age. Uwe Krischer, the state commissioner for civil protection, wants daycare centers and schools to include crisis and wartime preparedness in their curriculum. He suggests that even preschoolers should learn basics like making emergency calls and treating wounds through play-based activities.

Krischer cautions that many adults in NRW lack proper preparation for disasters or war. He believes people often assume help will always arrive, but in a defense scenario, no assistance may come at all. To address this, he proposes mandatory lessons on emergency supplies, go-bags, and treating war injuries for all children in the region.

His plan would integrate self-defense training alongside existing first-aid courses for driver's licenses and school resuscitation programs. The goal is to ensure every child in NRW gains these skills before leaving education. So far, the federal government has not responded to the proposal, which focuses specifically on NRW's kindergartens and schools.

If adopted, the initiative would make crisis preparedness a standard part of early education in NRW. Children would learn practical skills, from emergency calls to wound care, as part of their regular schooling. The Red Cross hopes this will create a generation better equipped to handle emergencies and potential wartime situations.