Provide staff with first aid training, says St John Ambulance

St John Ambulance is urging UK businesses to provide first aid training to as many employees as possible as part of their corporate and social responsibilities or as an employee benefit.

Following research which compiled death registration data from the Office of National Statistics, St John Ambulance found that up to 150,000 people die each year in situations where first aid could have helped them.

Additional first aid training would also be welcomed by staff, found the research – 59 per cent of people responded that they would like such training at work.

St John Ambulance CEO, Sue Killen, said, "By also training more people in first aid they can give staff the ability to make an immediate difference between a life saved and a life lost.

"Companies are already required to train a minimum number of staff in first aid. We are asking them to go further and train as many employees as possible or at least help spread basic first aid knowledge within the workplace."

Ms Killen also said that the training would help to reduce the number of people dying needlessly while empowering employees and making them aware of the positive contribution their employer is making.

"Many businesses offer employees gym memberships or language lessons, but what could be more important than equipping your workforce with the skills to save a life?” she added.