First aid 'could save thousands' - St John Ambulance

You can teach sufficient 1st Aid in a day. I'd like to see it as part of the curriculum with training given every year to really enforce the skills taught.

Unless you have indemity from actions arising from you attempting to give first aid, there will be a significant deterrant from "helping" people.

You really think that? Having been a trained first aider since childhood, it would never enter my head to worry about such things. Saving someone's life comes first.

Having seen first aiders say they cant do anything because they arent covered by insurance. I would say yes, for a lot of people it will, especially as night follows day there will be someone who will sue.

Also, having heard from people far knowledgeable than me (A&E Doctor in particular) some of the "first aid" attempted by apparently qualified St John people, I cannot say I blame them for not acting without insurance, although entirely out of their own incompetence.

And when I say getting it wrong, I'm talking the level of moving a person with potential spinal injuries without any reasonable justification, we are talking things that can paralyse a person.

The sad thing is, I know some people in St John who are incredibly good at what they do, but some are a complete liability.

I have been a St John First Aider for years and they cover their First Aiders against indemnity. As long as you are doing what you've been trained to do and your training hasn't lapsed they will back their First Aiders to the hilt.

I've been in two situations where my skills have been called for outside of the workplace, and in neither situation would I have held back from providing aid for fear of repurcussions. In the first instance, if I'd done nothing the person would have died, even if they'd still died (they didn't) at least I'd tried.

I agree that's bad, but to me that also smacks of bad training or poor understanding of the training given. I was always taught never to move a casualty without good reason (other more pressing dangers, like fire, for example).

It's impossible to say in any specific instance whether it's a matter of poor training, someone who just isn't thinking, or someone who is thick as two short planks.

A first aid course and certificate are a mandatory part of the driving test over here.

I'd suggest it's more likely to be one of the first two (YMMV). The St John course and testing requirements aren't a bird course, they are such that if someone was properly thick they probably wouldn't qualify, there's a written, oral and practical test which aren't easy.

Sorry, pedant ahoy!

It's St John, not St Johns or St John's. It comes from the Priory of St John. I was a cadet in the 1970s, and had to do the history of the Order of St John as one of my Grand Prior subjects. Still got the certificate somewhere...

Sorry. I hand you back to the studio.

I'd just like to point out that I had that right in my post, having once had my head bitten off in similar fashion by someone else who was involved!

Dutifully corrected. Although, if I'm talking about "the-course-and-testing-requirements-belonging-to-St-John-Ambulance-Brigade" wouldn't it be "St John's Course" ??

Within the organisation it was always referred to as SJ, or SJA. But I get your meaning.

I have to agree with that. Though that only really applies if they are stationary. If they are up and about you should also keep them away from any dangers.