The Christmas and New Year period has again been a tragic one with 39 road injuries and deaths in NSW between 1 December 2023 and 14 January 2024, an increase of six per cent from the previous year.[1] The number of annual deaths on NSW roads has continued to rise, with 354 annual deaths in 12 months – an increase of 23.8% on the previous year.[2] Yet simple first aid interventions can be easily learned to reduce injuries or save a life.

St John Ambulance NSW CEO, Dominic Teakle, explains the important role of educating everyday people with the first aid skills needed to support after a crash or roadside emergency.

“We believe all drivers should be taught basic first aid and CPR. It’s often drivers that are first on the scene following an accident, making first aid skills critical for survival in the time it takes for emergency services to arrive. Just the simple act of lifting an unconscious person’s chin can help to keep their airways open and give them a much higher chance of survival. First aid training gives you the confidence to act.

“With the January long weekend coming up, there are likely to be more cars on the road, so it’s important that road users are equipped with these skills and know what to do if an accident happens.”

A survey of Australian adults, commissioned by St John Ambulance Australia, has found that nearly three in ten (28%) Australians say they have never undertaken first aid training, with just one in six (16%) saying that they would be very confident in providing first aid to another person in a health or medical emergency.

This is particularly concerning for young people aged 17 to 25-years-old, who are a high-risk group for injury and fatality on our roads. Many European nations have adopted early intervention strategies, such as making first aid training a pre-requisite to holding a driver’s permit. When presented with road accident data, nearly 4 in 5 Australian adults (78%) were supportive of equipping young people with first aid skills as part of achieving their driving permits.

St John Ambulance NSW is calling on the NSW Government to follow the ACT Government’s recent initiative to encourage Learner Drivers under 25 years old to complete first aid training in exchange for a five-hour credit. This reduces their required driving hours and was developed in consultation with St John. It came off the back of calls from 2022 Senior Australian of the Year, Val Dempsey, to make the training a requirement for all Learner Drivers.

In addition, a free online training package, geared primarily towards Learner Drivers (driverfirstaid.org.au), is available, and provides an introduction on common first aid interventions, including checking and supporting an airway, stopping a bleed, treating broken bones, and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).  

By ensuring that all learner drivers are equipped with a first aid qualification, Australia is helping to protect its young people and safeguard the next generation of drivers by empowering them with the skills they need to save a life.