It seems reasonable to state that first aid is an essential dimension within the scope of healthcare and the social environment. Skills and knowledge that can be gained from the related courses are valuable, given that they may be a prerequisite to saving one’s life. The mentioned courses do not imply any considerable load in terms of understanding the material or developing essential skills. Hence, taking into account the possible benefits of such a compulsory education, the state’s decision to implement it would be justified, as even one human life saved is worth bringing any policy to life (if it does not lead to drastic consequences).
An aspect to consider in this vein is the reaction of 14-year-olds themselves. It should be admitted that this age is reasonably associated with the behavior of rejecting things teenagers do not like and focusing on their personal interests. However, the theme of exploring the human body – even from a unique perspective of first aid – may stay in line with teenagers’ aspirations for their age. Moreover, the courses involve studying many fascinating biological topics that can be useful in many spheres of life.
Then, people’s reactions to 14-year-old first-aiders may vary considerably. For instance, one can argue that the knowledge and skills gained from the first-aid course can be easily comprehended by teenagers. Their capabilities seem enough to learn the related material and apply it in practice. The other perspective might be that first-aiders are to be experienced and physically complete to save lives in the framework given. Teenagers may not be strong enough to use particular techniques. Moreover, they might be in lack bravery in stressful situations, which is implied when there is the necessity to save one’s life. Despite such possible contradicting positions, it seems that compulsory first-aid education for 14-year-olds is a good option for the state, considering all the factors discussed.