It's time we faced the truth: fear of first aid is costing lives

The Herald Scotland

6 days ago

We recently took a closer look at this figure and discovered that 7% of Scots have witnessed a first aid emergency, but didn't step in to help. While this may seem a minute figure, the reality is worryingly different.
That 7% held back by fear-driven inaction equates to over 200 lives lost in Scotland every single year. That's more than 200 partners, parents, colleagues, children, siblings and friends gone – not because help was unavailable, but because people stood by, paralysed by self-doubt.
And that's just one factor. It doesn't include the wider incidents that occur in the everyday. Those people who have a fall, experience concussion, choking, a laceration or who live with a condition which may require urgent and immediate help without warning.
As someone who has spent years advocating for greater first aid awareness, I've collected a variety of reasoning for bystander reluctance. Each one is collectively linked to one major factor: fear.
We need to lay these fears bare, in order to take action and save lives. So, why are we as a nation scared to step up and help in a first aid emergency?
Most Scots (61%) fear doing something wrong, while a further 58% worry about making the situation worse. Almost half admit they simply don't feel they have enough knowledge, and even among those who said they would step in, 38% said they'd hesitate first.
These concerns are natural, but it doesn't make them acceptable when lives are on the line. In an emergency, hesitation and fear can have fatal consequences.
Last month, we took to Buchanan Street with a mystery box. We dared passers-by to reach inside. While some simply refused, others openly hesitated before putting their hand inside. Those who were brave enough found nothing but an empty box. The simple gimmick symbolised the unfounded fears that often stop us in our tracks – just like those emergency moments when panic can spark an instant freeze reaction – when what's really needed is a quick burst of courage. Put simply, we need more fight and less flight.
We must challenge our collective passivity head on. It's not enough to talk about the 'importance' of first aid training – that's just common sense. The truth is, the combination of our good intentions and lengthy discussions isn't going to save lives.
The reality is this: being first aid-trained is no longer a nice-to-have. It's a civic responsibility. We need to treat first aid training as a public health priority, not a personal afterthought. Everyone should know the basics. More importantly, everyone should believe they can use them.
We're taking the fear out of first aid by facing reality to make lasting change. Our intention isn't to guilt-trip the public, but to encourage proactive action and highlight that doing something is better than doing nothing. Because when someone's life hangs in the balance, hesitation kills. And silence, no matter how well-meaning, is deadly.
Let's stop letting fear write the ending.
Jim Dorman is Director of Operations and Community Engagement at St Andrew's First Aid
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