First aid advice and resources

Growing your first aid knowledge means that everyone around you is more likely to get the help they need in a medical emergency.

Whether you’re looking to improve your own understanding or for help training those in your school or team, St John Ambulance has a range of resources to make this easier.

Our charity has helped the public learn first aid for the last 150 years. Today, our resources can give you the right steps to follow when faced with life threatening situations like strokes and cardiac arrest. We provide these in several formats and languages.

Our advice pages also help you know what to do with common conditions such as hay fever and nettle stings. How you can ease discomfort at home and telltale signs that someone may need more medical attention. Each of our resources are frequently updated and checked by our clinical team.

Always remember to dial 999 as soon as possible in an emergency.

Many people fear getting involved when a medical emergency occurs. They might worry about making the situation worse. They might be concerned about legal action if something goes wrong. In our recent research, 10%, of people said they were unlikely to provide first aid to a relative or friend in a medical emergency and 18% said they were unlikely to help a stranger.

However, immediate interventions such as CPR during a cardiac arrest and back slaps when someone is choking are often crucial for saving lives. Learning and practising the steps to follow can give you the confidence to act.

The law also offers some reassurance. The Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act 2015 (Sarah Act) states that if something goes wrong when someone is intervening in an emergency, the courts will take the context of their actions into account if they are sued.