CPR and awareness around the use of defibrillators have officially become mandatory elements of the Northern Ireland school curriculum.
The changes are part of a wider package to provide training and resources to support the roll-out of CPR training in schools at Key Stage 3.
The Department of Education is working closely with educational partners and key stakeholders including the British Heart Foundation and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.
Michelle McIlveen, Education Minister, welcome the curriculum additions.
"CPR is a critical and potentially life-saving skill," she said.
"We know that providing CPR training within the school curriculum can have a clear and measurable impact on survival rates.
"I have therefore brought forward legislation to make CPR training and AED awareness compulsory elements of the curriculum at Key Stage 3".
The Minister said she has "already written to schools setting out my expectation".
Fearghal McKinney, from the British Heart Foundation in Northern Ireland, said: "Today truly is a momentous day as the legislation comes into force that will lead to a new generation of lifesavers.
"Every day in Northern Ireland people tragically die because bystanders don't have the confidence or knowledge to perform CPR and defibrillation," he said.
"We know that in other countries where children are taught CPR in school, cardiac arrest survival rates are higher.
"With the right support for schools, today’s change to the curriculum promises to improve the odds of survival for countless people who have a cardiac arrest in the future".
