China’s Ministry of Education has initiated a comprehensive three-year national project to significantly improve emergency medical response capabilities within primary and secondary educational institutions across the country. The public welfare program, announced through an official notice, represents a major advancement in student safety protocols through the strategic deployment of life-saving equipment and specialized training.
The ambitious initiative will see the installation of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools located in regions with limited emergency medical resources. Additionally, the project mandates the establishment of dedicated first-aid education studios in every district and county nationwide, with each county receiving two fully-equipped studios containing three AED training units and medical mannequins.
Implementation will follow a phased regional approach, with eleven provincial-level regions including Beijing, Hebei, Jiangsu, Shandong, and Guangdong participating in the initial 2026 rollout. Eleven additional regions will join the program in 2027, with the final ten regions completing national coverage by 2028.
The ministry has outlined specific training requirements, with each studio training four certified instructors to create a professional teaching workforce. Provincial education authorities will develop age-appropriate training curricula, ensuring primary students receive classroom-based instruction while secondary students engage in practical hands-on activities and field training exercises.
The Ministry has called for close collaboration between local education authorities, the China Teacher Development Foundation, and technology giant Tencent to ensure effective implementation. Priority will be given to establishing first-aid education studios within youth activity centers or larger school campuses to facilitate regular training sessions and maximize accessibility.