Hansard

I thank James Dornan for bringing to the chamber the motion to congratulate St Andrew’s First Aid on its count me in campaign. As a lifelong scout, I know the importance of the phrase, “Be prepared.” That simple motto can serve as a life lesson for us all—to be prepared for good times, victories and triumphs, but also to be prepared for defeat, sickness and injury. In times of personal injury—of any sort—being prepared can mean the difference between life and death.

When a household accident occurs, many Scots’ first instinct is to call 999, as it should be in the event of a true emergency. However, it is important to know the difference between what is and is not an emergency. Every year, 34,000 Scots are admitted to hospitals after falls, choking, burns and other common accidents. Although they can result in serious injuries, many such cases could have been sorted out or received initial care with basic first aid. Those 34,000 patients are being treated instead of the victims of more serious accidents or medical conditions.

Unfortunately, most Scots just do not know that many accidents are treatable at home, in part because only 23 per cent of Scots are trained in basic first aid procedures. If awareness is raised of the importance and value of first aid training, Scots can become more self-reliant and can take a serious burden off hospitals.

That is where St Andrew’s First Aid comes in. In the lead-up to first aid week, St Andrew’s First Aid has launched its count me in campaign, which, according to the organisation’s website,

“is aimed at building awareness that First Aid saves lives.”

The centrepiece of the campaign is:

“No one should die because they needed First Aid and didn’t get it.”

In its pursuit of that goal, St Andrew’s First Aid is seeking 34,000 signatures—one for each of the Scots who are admitted to hospital each year for common injuries that require emergency attention, but who could have initially received first aid assistance. Furthermore, the campaign seeks to educate the 77 per cent of Scots who are not trained in basic first aid procedures on how crucial it is to learn such skills.

As the leading provider of work-related first aid training in Scotland, St Andrew’s First Aid provides a wide variety of services that relate to first aid accreditation. It has a series of downloadable materials for small business owners, hospitality managers, employees and other members of any business to help guide people towards enrolment in first aid training.

St Andrew’s First Aid is particularly concerned with the Scottish hospitality industry, in which last year more than 500 workers received an injury that kept them off work for at least three days. In restaurants alone, 205 cooking and serving-related accidents were recorded last year. One in 10 Scots say that they have witnessed a medical emergency in a hotel, restaurant or other entertainment venue, and one in 16 have needed medical assistance for injuries that they themselves have sustained. St Andrew’s First Aid seeks to create a more resilient Scotland—one in which hospitality workers and people in their homes do not have to fear for their safety in the event of an accident and do not unnecessarily burden the emergency medical services.

I know first hand the importance of first aid training. As a scout leader and a lifelong scout, I teach my scouts to be prepared for anything. I have been first aid certified since I was 18 years old, and I often help young scouts to acquire their first aid badges. When we go on camping trips in the summer, it is important to have someone who can respond to such unfortunate situations. I am proud to be one of the few who can, but I wish that it were not such an exclusive group.

I urge Scots everywhere to get first aid certified. As someone who has experienced the positive benefits of first aid training up close in various situations in which I have had to take action to help my family and friends, I can assure members that it is worth the time that it takes to do. I congratulate St Andrew’s First Aid on its efforts in its everyday work and its count me in campaign, and I hope that the organisation knows that I am a huge supporter of its work.