TAKING THE FEAR OUT OF FIRST AID CAMPAIGN
New data has revealed that those living in Edinburgh and the Lothians are the least likely in Scotland to help in a first-aid emergency.
The insights from a YouGov survey commission by St Andrew’s First Aid, Scotland’s only dedicated first aid charity, revealed that one in ten (11%) people admitted to being in a situation where they could have given first aid, but chose not to.
This is higher than any other region in Scotland and four percentage points above the national average of 7%. And while this national figure appears low, the reality when it comes to saving lives is starkly different.
With 3,200 people in Scotland experiencing an out-of-hospital-cardiac arrest (OHCA) every year, and a survival rate of less than 1 in 10, the 7% who chose not to step in equates to 224 lives potentially being lost.
Despite 88% of those living in Edinburgh and the Lothians recognising the importance of being first aid trained and half (49%) stating they would step in to help an emergency, 38% would hesitate first. A further third (29%) said their reaction wouldn’t change if the person was known to them – higher than anywhere else in Scotland.
The figures, taken from more than 1,000 respondents across the country highlighted that a fear of doing something wrong topped the list of concerns for the region (62%), with worries around making things worse following closely (61%). These anxieties echoed across the country, presenting as the main two concerns in every region.
In response, St Andrew’s First Aid, has launched a national campaign – ‘Taking the fear out of first aid’, in a bid to bring widespread visibility to the issue and encourage more people to recognise that their fears can easily be overcome.
Stuart Callison, Chief Executive at St Andrew’s First Aid said: “This research highlights not only the importance of being first aid trained, but also how critical it is for it to be put into practice when needed.
“While the research gives us some reassurance by highlighting those in Edinburgh and the Lothians are aware of the importance of first-aid training, it’s worrying to see how many are fearful of providing help in an emergency. The heartbreaking reality is that more lives could be saved through bystander intervention.
“That’s why we’re launching our campaign today to dispel some of the most common myths around first aid, to overcome these fears and help save more lives. As well as providing first aid training to as many Scots as possible, we want to be sure that those who have been trained keep their skills up to date and have the confidence to step up when needed.
“Doing something is always better than doing nothing and allowing our fears to stand in the way of taking action can be the difference between life and death for a casualty.”
Through the campaign, the charity is striving to tackle the challenges often faced in real-life situations, which for many is a fear of the unknown.
Yesterday’s launch saw popular content creator, Mark Thorburn, grab the attention of the public on Glasgow’s bustling Buchanan Street. Passers-by were invited to take part in a challenge, which saw them asked to reach their hand into a ‘mystery box’ – and their reactions monitored.
While some simply refused, those who accepted the challenge did so with trepidation, soon to be relieved upon learning the box was actually empty.
The stunt’s aim was to highlight that providing first aid isn’t as scary as people may think, nor should emotions and initial responses of anxiety or fear stand in the way of stepping in when it’s most needed.
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