First Aid Awareness Week

[REMOVED GRAPHICS] PRESS EMBARGO UNTIL 0001, MONDAY 24th JUNE, 2002 According to a new survey specially commissioned to launch First Aid Awareness Week (24th - 30th June), over half the UK population do not feel confident in treating some of the most common life- threatening conditions that occur in the home. Lives are undoubtedly being lost due to a lack of basic First Aid knowledge. The survey, carried out by Dorling Kindersley, in association with the UK's leading First Aid providers - St John Ambulance, St Andrew's Ambulance Association and the British Red Cross found that: - Worryingly over half the population (51.8%) do not feel confident in treating a person with a heart attack - one of the nation's biggest killers, with men feeling the most unsure (53.8%). Interestingly, a third of women surveyed (33.3%) did feel confident about treating a heart attack. Regionally, the West Country felt the least confident with 63.6% saying they would be unsure what to do if faced with the situation. - Meningitis - every parent's worst nightmare - was revealed as the condition that most people felt least confident in recognising. Nearly 70% of men questioned felt sure they wouldn't know what to do if faced by meningitis, with half of women feeling the same way (51.7%). - Statistics also reveal that almost two thirds of people (60.8%) do not feel confident in treating someone suffering from poisoning, with the 16- 24 age group topping the statistics (79.5%). Again, only 16% in the West Country did know how to treat poisoning, whereas their neighbours in Wales felt much more confident in a similar situation with 29% knowing what to do. - Burns proved to be the condition that the majority of people felt comfortable in treating, with over three quarters of the population (76.5%) experiencing a burn and knowing how to treat it. 49.9% also said they felt confident in treating a broken bone (with men coming out on top - 53.4%). Yet, almost 70% of the population said they would feel more confident about treating the above conditions if they had a First Aid Manual in the home. The figures reveal a confidence across all age bands, with 16 to 24 year olds coming out top with nearly 80% feeling they could treat casualties with the aid of a manual. Other statistics revealed in the survey include: - Parents most fear being faced with meningitis (40.8%), followed by poisoning (19.1%) and head injuries (14.8%). Cuts and grazes received only 0.8% of the vote. - Over half of respondents use the First Aid Manual regularly for advice. - Almost a third (28%) use the manual as first port of call in an emergency. - A First Aid Manual can take the strain off the local doctor - over half the respondents (52.8%) would be more likely to refer to the manual first than go straight to the doctor. Nearly 60% of over 55's were prepared to consult a manual before going to a doctor. Jackie Douglas, publisher of First Aid Manual, says: 'Some of these results are very worrying and considering that most accidents happen in the home, we cannot emphasise enough the importance of owning a First Aid Manual - put simply, it could save a life' Whose bedside manner would be most appealing? When asked which celebrity bedside manner was most appealing, the responses were not all that surprising. Despite nursing the sorrows of the England team, David Beckham scores low in the bedside manner stakes with only 10.1% of the female vote. Topping the chart is George Clooney with 48.4% of the vote and Pop Idol's Gareth Gates brings up the rear with 3.4%. For the boys, Kylie Minogue came out on top with 38.1%, while surprisingly, Helen Mirren (19.1%) takes second place ahead of pop princess, Britney Spears (12.4%). The new First Aid Manual is available from all good bookshops and www.dk.com. Notes to Editors · Over 1,400 people of all ages and from 16 TV regions took part in this survey. · Survey carried out by Dorling Kindersley, in association with the UK's leading First Aid providers - St John Ambulance, St Andrew's Ambulance Association and the British Red Cross. · First Aid Awareness Week takes places between 24th and 30th June 2002 · Now in it's 8th Edition and extensively updated every 5 years, the First Aid Manual is published by Dorling Kindersley this week, and is fully authorised by St John Ambulance, St Andrew's Ambulance Association and the British Red Cross. · This edition is more comprehensive than ever before, has been completely redesigned and restructured to make it even more accessible. · For further information on the survey, First Aid Awareness Week or First Aid Manual, please contact: Serena Stent at Dorling Kindersley on 020 7010 3553, or by email, serena.stent@dk.com Rachel Balfour at St John Ambulance on 020 4324 4213, or by email, rachel.balfour@nhq.sja.org.uk Ruth Hillenbrand at British Red Cross on 020 7201 5440, or by email, RHill@redcross.org.uk or Clare McNeil on 020 7201 5019, or by email, cmcneil@redcross.org.uk (for out-of-hours calls - 07659 145 095) Christine Cuthbertson at St Andrew's Ambulance Association on 0141 332 4031, or by email, firstaid@staaa.demon.co.uk PRESS EMBARGO UNTIL 0001, MONDAY 24th JUNE, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/06/21/20020621BIT00020/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/06/21/20020621BIT00020/wkr0002.pdf