Corporate benefits of first aid research by The British Red Cross

New research carried out by the British Red Cross shows the benefits to both employers and employees of attending a first aid course. These range from increased confidence in working life to personal development and having the ability to help colleagues. The British Red Cross helps to build the capacity within individuals and their business or wider communities to withstand or recover from emergencies. First aid plays a vital role in developing this capacity. Events such as the London bombings illustrated the importance of first aid skills and how they can be used to benefit the wider community.

The British Red Cross has carried out a survey amongst first aiders to illustrate the benefits to both employers and employees of first aid. One of the main benefits is increased confidence levels - 95% of respondents felt that they would be more confident in their working life having completed first aid training. They also felt that having first aid skills would make them of more value to their employer. 89% also felt that attending a first aid course was important in terms of personal development.

By sending employees on a first aid course, organisations are not only giving them the life saving skills to help fellow employees in case of an incident at work, but also equipping them to support their community. During the London bombings first aiders from organisations situated close to the bombings were able to assist the emergency services in providing vital life saving support.

The British Red Cross has been providing first aid in the workplace courses for over 20 years, last year training over 120,000 people. It has over 175 venues across the country offering standard one or four-day first aid courses for the workplace. For further information please call 0844 871 8000 or visit our website www.redcross.org.uk/faw

For a full copy of the survey please contact Lydia Mottershead on 0844 871 8000.