Local branches of the Red Cross Society of China have provided first aid training to about 6.38 million students, teachers and staff members on campuses this year, the highest in recent years, a Red Cross official said on Friday.

Sun Shuopeng, vice-president of the society, said during a briefing that it will continue to strengthen training targeting teachers at primary and middle schools, and introduce more automated external defibrillators and first aid kits into campuses.

He was speaking ahead of the World First Aid Day that falls on Saturday. This year's theme is "Be a first aid hero at your school and in the community."

Bei Xiaochao, secretary-general of the Chinese Red Cross Foundation, said the foundation is striving to install a machine that incorporates an AED with a first aid kit at all primary and middle schools in Beijing.

The machine can also be used to answer first aid needs of communities around campuses, he added.

Bei said the foundation is now tapping the internet and digital devices to better connect first aid equipment with volunteers who have been trained to use the machines expertly.