Make life-saving First Aid training compulsory in all schools and workforces in the UK
The Issue
Each year 140,000 lives could be saved with the use of basic first aid and according to statistics obtained from the British Red Cross around 60% of lives from injury alone could be saved using basic first aid. Every year in the UK approximately 900 people choke to death, 2,500 asphyxiate from a blocked airway and 29,000 die from heart attacks. The implementation of compulsory first aid training to school curriculum and workforces will significantly reduce these statistics.
Although many people would be likely to call an ambulance if they witnessed an individual who collapsed and stopped breathing, the time it takes for the emergency services to arrive can mean the difference between life and death. Brain tissue starts to die within 3 minutes after the heart stops, due to a lack of oxygen. Early CPR taught in first aid training, can more than double or even triple a person’s chances of survival, and can provide some extra time before paramedics arrive and provide care.
Research commissioned by the British Red Cross questioned more than 2,000 UK adults relating to their knowledge, confidence and willingness to intervene in three potentially life-threatening first aid emergencies – 1) helping someone who is bleeding heavily, 2) is unresponsive and breathing, or 3) is unresponsive and not breathing.
The findings were shocking and clearly demonstate the urgent need to ensure first aid lessons are provided in schools and workforces across the UK to address the public’s lack of knowledge and confidence to step in during a first aid emergency. The research shows:
- Only 5% of people would feel knowledgeable, confident and willing to act in those three scenarios, 95% of people would not.
-Seven in ten adults lack the knowledge and confidence to act if someone collapsed and was unresponsive and breathing.
-Nearly seven in ten people polled lack the knowledge and confidence to act if someone was bleeding heavily.
-In addition to these scenarios, eight in ten adults also said they lack the knowledge and confidence to act if a baby was choking.
-60% of adults would be concerned about knowing what to do if they witnessed someone having a cardiac arrest and only 20% of respondents were able to correctly identify the signs of a cardiac arrest.
These shocking findings again highlight how crucial it is for training to be established and recognised across all sectors.
Thus, We urge the UK government to implement first aid training across all workforces and schools in an attempt to save precious lives.
The Issue
Each year 140,000 lives could be saved with the use of basic first aid and according to statistics obtained from the British Red Cross around 60% of lives from injury alone could be saved using basic first aid. Every year in the UK approximately 900 people choke to death, 2,500 asphyxiate from a blocked airway and 29,000 die from heart attacks. The implementation of compulsory first aid training to school curriculum and workforces will significantly reduce these statistics.
Although many people would be likely to call an ambulance if they witnessed an individual who collapsed and stopped breathing, the time it takes for the emergency services to arrive can mean the difference between life and death. Brain tissue starts to die within 3 minutes after the heart stops, due to a lack of oxygen. Early CPR taught in first aid training, can more than double or even triple a person’s chances of survival, and can provide some extra time before paramedics arrive and provide care.
Research commissioned by the British Red Cross questioned more than 2,000 UK adults relating to their knowledge, confidence and willingness to intervene in three potentially life-threatening first aid emergencies – 1) helping someone who is bleeding heavily, 2) is unresponsive and breathing, or 3) is unresponsive and not breathing.
The findings were shocking and clearly demonstate the urgent need to ensure first aid lessons are provided in schools and workforces across the UK to address the public’s lack of knowledge and confidence to step in during a first aid emergency. The research shows:
- Only 5% of people would feel knowledgeable, confident and willing to act in those three scenarios, 95% of people would not.
-Seven in ten adults lack the knowledge and confidence to act if someone collapsed and was unresponsive and breathing.
-Nearly seven in ten people polled lack the knowledge and confidence to act if someone was bleeding heavily.
-In addition to these scenarios, eight in ten adults also said they lack the knowledge and confidence to act if a baby was choking.
-60% of adults would be concerned about knowing what to do if they witnessed someone having a cardiac arrest and only 20% of respondents were able to correctly identify the signs of a cardiac arrest.
These shocking findings again highlight how crucial it is for training to be established and recognised across all sectors.
Thus, We urge the UK government to implement first aid training across all workforces and schools in an attempt to save precious lives.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 25 February 2021