UK Adults Don’t Know What To Do In A First Aid Emergency Research Released Today Reveals

Would you know what to do in a first aid emergency? If you don’t you are not alone. New research released today finds that just five per cent of UK adults have first aid skills and the confidence to put them into operation.

In light of this statistic, three UK charities are urging the government to make first aid knowledge part of the school curriculum.

The British Red Cross, St John Ambulance and the British Heart Foundation, have come together to form a coalition – Every Child a Lifesaver. As well as tackling the government, they are asking the public to back them with their campaign to include a minimum of one hour of first aid education a year as part of PSHE.

Head of First Aid Education at the British Red Cross, Joe Mulligan said: “When an emergency strikes, giving first aid could save someone’s life. We all hope that someone would be able to help us in an emergency, but our research shows that few people feel they have the skills and confidence to act in some serious situations.

“By taking part in the government’s call for evidence and making first aid a mandatory part of PSHE on the national curriculum, you could help us empower future generations with the simple but vital skills to save someone’s life in an emergency.”

Findings in British Red Cross research of 2000 UK adults show that 71 per cent of adults wouldn’t know what to do if someone collapsed and was unresponsive.

A 69 per cent didn’t know what to do if they needed to help someone who was bleeding heavily and 81 per cent said they wouldn’t be able to help save a choking baby.

Head of Training at St John Ambulance, Carl Makins said: “Children attend school for more than 1,000 hours a year; we’re asking for just one hour of that curriculum for them to learn first aid skills that will last a lifetime and might one day enable them to be the difference between a life lost and a life saved.”

The government’s call for evidence Changes to the teaching of Sex and Relationship Education and PSHE closes on Monday 12 February 2018.

To find out more or to support the campaign, visit: www.redcross.org.uk/firstaidinschools