This World First Aid Day, St John Ambulance Queensland is calling on Queenslanders to step up and make sure every home, car and workplace across the state has a fully stocked first aid kit.
New national research conducted by St John highlights worrying gaps in first aid preparedness, with 34% of Australians surveyed admitting they don’t have a kit at home.
Even among households with a kit, almost half haven’t checked it in the past 12 months, and over 10% admit it’s been more than five years or never.
Workplaces and cars are no safer: just 28% of Australians have a kit at work and only 38% keep one in the car. In both cases, large numbers haven’t checked their kits in years.
Queenslanders are faring slightly better than the national average:
- 65% of adults report having a kit at home
- 45% have one in the car – the highest rate nationally of those surveyed
- 40% say they’ve checked their kit within the past year
St John Queensland CEO Peter Warrener said the findings show that while Queenslanders are leading the way in first aid preparedness, there is still room for improvement.
“Having a first aid kit is only part of the picture. Knowing how to use it and keeping it up to date is just as important,” Warrener said.
“First aid saves lives, but only if we’re prepared. This World First Aid Day, we’re urging Queenslanders to commit to learning first aid and making sure their kits are accessible and fully stocked.”
First aid kits should be checked and audited every 12 months as a minimum requirement.
Having the correct first aid facilities and trained personnel is a requirement of the Workplace Health and Safety Act.
World First Aid Day is marked globally on 13 September to raise awareness of the vital role first aid plays in everyday emergencies, from treating minor injuries at home to giving life-saving CPR in the community.
St John Queensland offers flexible, accredited training across the state and supplies first aid kits designed for homes, cars, and workplaces.
