You may think that it’s not important to know the basics of first aid as a driver – but data shows that the first people to typically respond to a medical emergency at the side of the road are… us.

“It is usually other drivers or road users who are first on scene at an accident,” explains first aid expert Emma Hammett, “and it is they who make the critical difference between quality of life and death.”

It’s why knowing the first aid basics is so vital for all drivers. However, according to a survey by moneysupermarket, we’re coming up short. Here’s why:

  • 10 million UK drivers (25%) don’t know how to put someone in the recovery position, a simple technique to ensure an unconscious breathing person’s airways are kept open while reducing the risk of choking – check out this video to see a step-by-step guide to the recovery position.
  • The survey reveals that many of us are confident about performing CPR with 56% of drivers saying they believe they could perform the procedure. That figure skyrockets to 75% in the 17 to 24 age group.
  • However, when asked basic knowledge questions about CPR, all of us come up short. For instance, when asked about the correct number of compressions to perform per minute, only 20% of drivers selected the correct answer – 120 compressions per minute – with most drivers (43%) choosing 60 compressions.
  • With both CPR and defribullator use being introduced into the theory test, hopefully this knowledge gap will close over the years ahead. In the meantime, check out this video on CPR best practice.
  • How to manage a motorcyclist in an accident is another blind spot. While the experts say you should never remove their helmet, 14% of drivers believe you should under all circumstances.

“Often people struggle with how and when to remove a motorcycle helmet. However, you should only remove a helmet if the person is unresponsive, if you are concerned about their airway, or there is no other way to access their mouth and nose.”

Emma Hammett, first aid expert

Good news

While our knowledge gaps are a concern, there are some positive findings in the survey. The big one is that 68% of drivers would step in and help out at the scene of a roadside incident. However, it’s vital that you follow the right procedure to ensure you and the people involved remain safe. Emma Hammett offers these top tips:

  1. Check for your safety first and secure the scene so that no other cars or vehicles will injure you or the other occupants of cars, then, turn off the car engine.
  2. Triage the occupants of the vehicles and phone the emergency services on speaker phone. Allow them to trace your call or give them an exact location. They will need to know how many people are involved, whether they are adults or children, and if anyone is unresponsive.
  3. Whilst phoning the emergency services, check on all the occupants of the vehicles. Quiet casualties are your priority, as anyone shouting or screaming has an open airway and is breathing.
  4. For quiet casualties, open their airway and check for normal breathing. For anyone unresponsive and not breathing who is in a car, inform the emergency services and follow their instructions.
  5. Finally, treat any life-threatening bleeding immediately with direct pressure and/or wound packing/tourniquets (depending on severity and location).

To find out how clued up you are about first aid at the roadside, take the moneysupermarket test here.

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