First aid saves lives
First Aid is a vital part of an effective emergency response. Each year, St John NT trains over 10,000 Territorians in the delivery of first aid. Despite this outstanding number, St John NT continues to receive a large volume of emergency calls received to attend road accidents from people without the correct skills to assist the accident victim.
One of the most common causes of death for road accident victims is a lack of oxygen supply, referred to as anoxia, caused by a blocked airway. On average, it takes less than four minutes for a blocked airway to be fatal. However, even in areas with highly structured emergency care, the average ambulance response to a road crash is ten minutes. Research shows that between 5% – 15% of road accident deaths can be prevented by administering basic first aid to the victim at the scene of the accident before the arrival of ambulance services.