ST JOHN Ambulance Victoria has unveiled new research surrounding everyday Australians, highlighting their concerns around incidents occurring in the home and the low number of first aid trained households.
The study comes off the back of a growing number of preventable incidents presenting to emergency care.
The study shows 76 per cent of Australians have witnessed a health or medical emergency – yet alarmingly almost two-thirds (62 per cent) say no one in their home has received first aid training. Less than one in 10 (nine per cent) say they would be very confident in their ability to provide first aid in an emergency. In Victoria, nearly 53 per cent of people are not confident in providing first aid in such a situation.
Millennials are the generation most likely to step in and provide first aid to another person in a medical emergency, and while the study shows that sudden cardiac arrest is a top concern for medical emergencies happening in the home, less than half (47 per cent) of Australians know how to use a defibrillator.
Nearly half the nation (44 per cent) is not concerned about incidents in the home, yet the home is the most common place injuries are occurring, with 33 per cent of incidents requiring hospitalisation happening in the home.
In response to these findings, St John Ambulance Victoria released their latest campaign, encouraging Victorians to know first aid or update their training. The campaign, “If it happens in the home”, explores common accidents that occur within the home including falls, drowning, heart attacks and driveway incidents.
St John Ambulance Victoria Chief Executive, Gordon Botwright strongly believes that everybody should be trained in first aid.
“You never know when you might need your first aid skills,” Mr Botwright said.
“In critical moments, it only takes one person to make a difference and help save a life. That’s why it’s crucial for more people to be equipped with first aid training. Every trained individual is a potential lifesaver, and together, we can create a safer community for all,” he said.
“The most dangerous home is the one you live in, and we want everyday Victorians to be prepared in the event of an accident or medical emergency occurring in the home. Lives are saved through first aid, and we know that campaigns like this are a good reminder to sign up or freshen up on your First Aid training. St John Ambulance has many useful resources and first aid kits available to help Victorians feel prepared for an emergency.”
To learn more about the campaign and St John Ambulance first aid training, visit: https://knowfirstaid.stjohnvic.com.au/
