8 September 2018

Fewer than half of drivers are confident they could deliver first aid if required, reveals the AA on World First Aid Day (8 September 2018). 

An AA-Populus poll* of 21,850 drivers showed 43% said they would be confident giving life-saving care if needed. 

The AA research also showed that UK drivers would react to being the first on scene at a road crash in the following ways:

• 93% would call the emergency services
• 79% would try to make the scene safe
• 65% would try to help anyone involved (talking to them / getting them out of the vehicle)
• 53% would try to help anyone involved by giving first aid
• 43% would try to flag down another motorist for help

Edmund King, AA President, said: “Being the first on the scene of a road accident is the stuff of nightmares for most drivers, but you can help prepare yourself for the possibility of it happening by taking some first aid training.

“It’s also a good idea to carry a first aid kit in your car. Even if you aren’t confident enough to use it in an emergency, there might be someone else on the scene who could. 

“It is sensible in this situation to make the scene as safe as possible, such as blocking traffic and turning off engines, and calling the emergency services before attempting any first aid.

“It’s not uncommon for our patrols to stop and help in this way and they can often be the first on scene at incidents, assisting the emergency services and helping those involved. 

“Of course, with e-call systems some cars will alert the emergency services to a crash themselves without the need for a phone call.”

This year, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC) ‘World First Aid Day’ (WFAD), supported by the FIA, carries the theme ‘First Response to Road Crashes’.

Globally, it is estimated that 1.34 million people lose their life on the road every year, and 50 million other road users are injured, often seriously.

Road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death globally and the leading cause of death for those aged 15 to 29.

First Aid courses are available through the British Red Cross

* Populus received 21,850 responses from AA members to its online poll between 12 and 19 April 2016