31 January 2025 · Australian News · Uncategorized

Australians Must Do Better

When an emergency strikes, every second counts. Yet, across Australia, most people remain dangerously unprepared to act in life-threatening situations. We like to think we’d know what to do if a loved one suddenly collapsed or if a stranger was choking in front of us. The reality? The vast majority wouldn’t. A series of recent incidents serve as a sobering reminder of just how crucial first aid training is and how widespread inaction could be costing lives.

Take the case of a young woman in Sydney’s west who fell from a second-story balcony on Australia Day. She was critically injured, and while emergency responders arrived quickly, what happened in those precious first moments? Was anyone on the scene able to assist, to stabilise her injuries, to prevent further harm? The right knowledge in those moments can make the difference between survival and tragedy.

Then there was the barbecue accident in Llandilo. A man in his 50s suffered severe burns, and thankfully, quick-thinking bystanders placed him under a cold shower before paramedics arrived. That simple action likely prevented his injuries from worsening. But let’s be honest, how many of us would know exactly what to do if faced with the same situation? How many would freeze, panic, or even make things worse with incorrect treatment?

The statistics paint a grim picture. More than 80% of Australians don’t feel confident performing CPR on a child or baby, and that’s just one of many essential skills that could save lives. Would you know what to do if someone next to you had a seizure? If a friend was bleeding heavily? If your child started choking? The truth is, emergencies don’t wait for paramedics. Often, by the time professional help arrives, the most crucial moments have already passed. Our inaction, our lack of training, could mean the difference between life and death.

This is not a new issue. St John Ambulance and other health organisations have been sounding the alarm for years. They’ve warned that too few Australians have up-to-date first aid skills, yet little has changed. World First Aid Day (September 14, 2024) came and went, largely unnoticed. Schools, workplaces, and communities should be integrating first aid training as a fundamental life skill, yet it remains an afterthought for most people. First aid should be as common as learning to drive, something everyone is expected to know.

“First aid isn’t just about ticking a box for workplace safety—it’s about saving lives,” says Chris Kennedy, a representative from CK First Aid, a leading first aid training organisation in Australia. “We see too many preventable tragedies where basic knowledge could have made all the difference. It’s time we stop treating first aid as optional and start making it a national priority.”

And that’s exactly what needs to happen. First aid training isn’t just a “nice-to-have” skill, it’s a necessity. The cost of inaction is clear: avoidable injuries, preventable deaths, and a nation that remains frighteningly underprepared. So here’s the challenge: take a first aid course. Push for training at work. Teach your kids the basics. Because when the moment comes, you don’t want to be the one standing there, helpless, when someone’s life is on the line.