Why First Aid Training should be a standard in all Schools and Workplaces?

I have been asked so many times if I would recomend for someone to do first aid training. Every time, I say yes. This is why I think first aid is so important.

Imagine a car crash happens in front of you, or a student collapses during gym class, or a coworker begins to choke in the break room during lunch. During those terrifying moments, what happens next can be the difference between life and death for someone.

During these moments, the majority of people freeze, not because they don’t care, but because they don’t know what to do.

First aid training is one of the simplest, most powerful tools we can equip ourselves with, yet it’s often overlooked in the very places where people spend most of their time: schools, and workplaces.

Here’s my thoughts on why that needs to change:

1. Emergencies happen all the time

Accidents don’t wait for an ambulance crew. Cardiac arrests, allergic reactions, asthma attacks, seizures, heart attacks, falls…the list goes on. All of these can happen at any time, and often do.

When bystanders immediatley perform CPR on someone in cardiac arrest, survival chances increase greatly.

2. Confidence can save lives

In an emergency, panicking is completely natural. Even the most skilled people in their trade can sometimes have a little panic, but the training replaces almost all panic with a purpose. Your adrenaline kicks in and you act.

When someone recieves first aid knowledge, they are more likely to act quickly. Whether it’s performing CPR, applying pressure to a wound, or even using basic skills, these can stabilise a situation until professional help arrives.

Another scenario to think of, what if a trained student helps a classmate having a seizure? What if a trained employee manages to stop severe bleeding after a workplace accident?

The point is simple: confidence comes from preparation.

3. It’s cost-effective and time-efficient

Some people assume that first aid training is extremely expensive or time-consuming. In reality, there are many different first aid courses. Some can be completed in as little as 4 hours while overs can spread across 3 days depending on the level required.

Compared to the cost of an emergency gone wrong, lost time, legal liability, or worse, the investment is minimal. Yes there are some people who charge a small fortune, though honestly, that doesn’t make them the best. Look at reviews, reputation, whether they are registered with an awarding organisation or even the facilities and equipment they use. Prices vary and sometimes you find that the courses which are reasonably priced or in-between are actually better and the trainers can offer the price they do because they want to give back, they aren’t greedy and their delivery and quality assurance keeps people coming back.

4. A universal life skill

Unlike technical or job-specific training, first aid is a skill that can take you anywhere.

– A teacher who knows CPR could save a family member.
– A trained employee could help at a traffic accident.

It’s a form of knowledge that goes everywhere with you. One person’s training could save so many lives over a lifetime. It also fosters a culture of awareness, responsibility, and compassion. It sets the example.

My final conclusion

I feel as though schools and companies should treat first aid not as an optional bonus, but as a core skill, just like literacy or numeracy.

You don’t need to be a paramedic to save a life, you just need to be prepared.

First aid training empowers people to do extraordinary things. In a crisis, trained individuals don’t just hope someone will help, they become the help.

Join me in building a world where every school and every workplace is filled with people ready to act when it matters most.

By Christopher Hood

Quality Assurance and Lead First Aid Trainer & IQA for Sunshine Training