Over 3,000 people signed a Facebook petition calling for first aid to be taught to schoolchildren by including it in the national curriculum.
The Facebook page was set up by Kenneth Sultana, the brother of 26-year-old Robert who choked to death on food during a barbeque with friends two weeks ago.
"With some first aid my brother could have lived. This has to teach us a lesson. It is sad that lack of such training cost the life of a healthy young, great attorney... We can start from here," the petition reads.
Robert Sultana, a lawyer, was enjoying a barbecue with friends at a farmhouse in Dwejra, limits of Mġarr, on May 11, when he choked on food.
Some days after the tragic accident, his father, Victor, called for more public awareness about simple but effective first aid procedures that could have saved his son's life.
"I was not there but I'm sure that, with better first aid knowledge, this might have been avoided," Prof. Sultana said. His call for better first aid knowledge was echoed by Jonathan Joslin, a consultant at Mater Dei Hospital's Emergency Department, who said basic life support techniques should be included in the school curriculum and taught to children.
People who signed onto the Facebook page shared their experiences when first aid knowledge could have helped them or their loved ones. One person described how he was with friends, eating a small sweet, when he started choking.
"At first I thought that by coughing it will be ok but nothing happened and, in panic, turned to friends to help me out in the situation. But, unfortunately, out of the 20 present no one did anything except panic and tap me on my back," he wrote.
He recounted how a stranger he referred to as "an angel", administered first aid and saved his life.
Another person wrote: "My brother passed away 15 years ago in a traffic accident and if first aid was given to him he would still be here with us."
A spokesman for the Education Ministry said that, although first aid was not listed in the curriculum as a subject, schoolchildren were taught some first aid during Physical and Social Development (PSD) classes. Apart from that, specialised teachers visited schools and demonstrated first aid techniques.