First-aid skills that come last

Only a tiny fraction of office workers have been trained in basic life-saving techniques, new figures revealed today.

Just 33,526 of London's estimated 3.5 million workers signed up with St John Ambulance and the British Red Cross to learn simple first aid last year.

The figures come as a new report shows nine out of 10 people would not know what to do if a colleague was badly hurt, while 72 per cent have never attended a first-aid course.

Doctors and campaigners describe the trend as "appalling" and have called for urgent training in schools and the workplace.

Stephen Miles, clinical director of Accident and Emergency at the Homerton Hospital in East London, said: "When you consider the vast number of workers in the capital, the number of people taking up first aid training is absolutely appalling.

"Training in first aid should start at an early age and should be taught to everybody at school.

"First aid is so important because at best it can save lives and at worst it reduces pressure on hospital wards.

"Employers worried about a worker who has suffered some sort of accident in the office or factory will panic and rush them to A&E - even if all they require is a bandaged toe.

"The techniques taught on these first aid courses - CPR, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and the recovery position - are techniques that save lives."

Last year 20,000 Londoners were trained in first aid by St John Ambulance, the leading provider in life-saving courses, and 13,526 with the Red Cross. According to St John Ambulance, four out of five parents do not know how to carry out mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Some 70 per cent of cardiac arrests in the country occur outside hospital, of which only two to three per cent survive. In parts of America, where more people are trained in emergency life support, 30 per cent of heart attack victims' lives are saved.

Nick Suggitt, training manager with St John Ambulance, said: "We are training just a tiny proportion of the numbers necessary and only touching the tip of the iceberg.

"The thing about first aid is that very often a small action can save a life - keeping an airway open, putting someone in the recovery position, performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation."

A spokesman for the British Heart Foundation added: "The workplace is an ideal environment to learn life saving skills.

"Not enough people know how to save a life, and as many emergencies occur at home or work, these skills are often needed to save the life of a friend or family member."

Shahina Khatun, 16, saved her eight-month-old niece's life only weeks after she attended a basic first-aid course last summer.

The Stepney Green schoolgirl told how she had been left baby-sitting when the infant started to choke violently.

"I heard her choking on a sweet, but because I attended the course I did not panic," she said. "The course lessons came straight back to me.

"I held her over my arm and patted her gently three times and the sweet came out. It saved her life."

For further information about first-aid courses contact St John Ambulance on 08700 104950

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