Earlier today I attended a British Red Cross event in Westminster to launch research revealing up to 59% of deaths from injury could potentially be prevented if public knew first aid.
The British Red Cross is calling for more opportunities for people to learn first aid throughout their lives.
Up to 59% of ‘pre-hospital’ deaths from injury could potentially be prevented if more people stepped in with some simple first aid, according to new research commissioned by the British Red Cross and conducted by the University of Manchester.
Whilst 93% will call for an ambulance if they find someone with an injury, first aid intervention of any kind was infrequent. Around half did not attempt any first aid while waiting for the emergency medical services to arrive.
Along with colleagues I learnt two simple first aid skills and pledged support for others to also have the opportunity to gain the confidence and learn the skills that could save a life.
Find the report and more about the British Red Cross campaign online at: www.redcross.org.uk/dontstopat999.
There is a vital need for us all to be more educated in first aid and to better understand more we should be doing that simply calling 999. I certainly found the basic first aid guidance that the British Red Cross provided at the session useful. Often it is just a simple intervention that could save someone’s life. This research shows that people are dying when their lives could have been saved, something we must all play our part in preventing.