Accidents are a part of everyday life, with hazards round every corner. Whilst most accidents are not serious, every year in the UK thousands of people die or are seriously injured in incidents.
It is important that first aid is provided to anyone who has had an accident and can even save someone’s life. You can find some important information on first aid below, which may be useful if you ever need to help someone who has had an accident.
What to do if you witness an accident
The NHS recommends that, if someone is injured in an accident, you should:
- Check that you or the injured person aren’t in immediate danger. If you are, make the situation safe
- When it’s safe to do so, assess the injured person. Call an ambulance, if necessary, by dialling 999.
- Carry out basic first aid if you feel comfortable doing so.
Learning first aid skills
The NHS website contains useful information about providing first aid, which can be useful if you need to provide it. Knowing how to put someone in the recovery position or provide CPR could be the difference between life and death, so it is worth taking the time to
It’s not just adults who may require first aid following an incident and, as well as formal paediatric training courses, there is plenty of guidance available to help you learn how to help a baby or child in a first aid emergency.
If your workplace offers it, you may be able to volunteer to be a first aider at work. The important skills you learn can be applied both in and out of work. You might also want to think about becoming a St John Ambulance volunteer, which will give you the opportunity to learn life-saving skills, as well as providing brilliant volunteering experience.
Being prepared to give first aid
It's important to have a well-stocked first aid kit in your home so you can deal with minor accidents and injuries and many people also keep a small first aid kit in their car for emergencies.
Your first aid kit should be locked and kept in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children.
Your safety
For more information on how to stay safe in your home, visit Your Safety.