Nine out of ten people won’t help an unconscious child on the street

April 11, 2011 Chopsy Baby

If a child collapsed in the street, appearing to be unconscious and not breathing, only one in ten UK people would step in to help.

According to the findings of a nationwide survey into attitudes behind performing first aid, just 14 per cent of people would administer CPR on a child, with the majority simply too scared to carry out the life saving actions.

In the South West, this figure dipped to just 12 per cent.

A total of 2,784 people were surveyed by Publisher Dorling Kindersley and UK First Aid providers St John Ambulance, St Andrew’s First Aid and British Red Cross

Findings revealed that 77 per cent of people would simply call the emergency services and 9 per cent would ask help from others.

First Aid Awareness Week running from 11 – 15 April 2011. It is aiming to give people confidence in performing CPR or be confident in putting their first aid training to use.

Whilst helping a child on the street would make some people falter, administering CPR on immediate family was not such an issue.

A total of 38 per cent of people would administer CPR on their own father if necessary, but 58 per cent would still dial 999 first.

Of those who had been taught how to do CPR, only 48 per cent would use this knowledge if needed.

The survey found a complete lack of confidence between possessing the skills and being able to put them to use.

Training Development Manager at St. John Ambulance, Clive James said: “These findings reveal a nationwide lack of knowledge and confidence towards CPR which we aim to address during First Aid Awareness Week. The survey has highlighted a need to raise awareness of important guideline changes such as the fact that anyone can now use a defibrillator. We want to encourage all members of the public to try CPR in an emergency situation, as ‘having a go’ is better than doing nothing and could help save a life.”

Another issue raised by the survey, was that 56 per cent of people mistakenly believed that a defibrillator was only to be used on someone having a heart attack.

Just 41 per cent of people knew they should be used on a person who is unconscious and not breathing to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm.

The units which are now available in public places have step-by-step instructions and can be used by people without training.

St John Ambulance – www.sja.org.uk

St Andrew’s First Aid – www.firstaid.org.uk

British Red Cross – www.redcross.org.uk/firstaid