Lack of first aid leads to 150,000 deaths a year
UP to 150,000 people a year die unnecessarily because too few people can give first aid.
They include nearly 900 who choke to death, 2,500 suffocated by a blocked airway and 29,000 heart attack victims.
They are all situations where first aid could make a difference, according to St John Ambulance, which is launching a public awareness campaign today.
It surveyed more than 2,000 people and found that 59 per cent would not feel confident trying to save a life. And 24 per cent would do nothing if they saw somebody struggling, and either wait for an ambulance to arrive or hope a passer-by knew first aid.
Chief executive Sue Killen said: “We can’t rely on other people to have the required skills. Everyone should take the responsibility.”