‘Knowledge gap’ puts Australian lives at risk

More than 80 per cent of Australians would not have the confidence to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on an infant or child, a survey has found, highlighting a skills deficit in emergency medical services across the country.

Report from Training company Australia Wide First Aid found that 82 per cent of respondents would not confirm their CPR skills in such circumstances.

Some 47 percent of respondents rated CPR as the most frightening first aid situation, even though 80 percent said it was the most important first aid skill.

Of those surveyed, 34 percent had experience performing or providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The report is based on research by St John Ambulance NSW, published in September, which found 46 per cent of parents surveyed were not prepared to deal with health or medical emergencies.

This comes despite research by the First Aid Centre finding that 44 per cent of Australian households with children had experienced a health-related emergency or needed medical care in the past year.

Australia Wide First Aid said its report showed a need to “fill knowledge gaps in CPR” across the country.

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“Developing first aid skills isn’t just about feeling prepared for the worst – it’s about empowering every person to confidently and effectively respond to everyday safety-threatening situations,” the company’s chief operating officer, Melissa Dos Santos, said in a statement.

“Learning basic skills and completing a first aid course can be the first step between life and death.”

CPR, or first aid for cardiac arrest or failure to breathe, is used in emergency situations such as allergic reactions, heart attacks and .

According to Royal Life Saving Australia, there were 99 drownings in Australia last summer, a 10 per cent increase on the previous year, prompting calls for improved CPR skills.

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‘Knowledge gap’ puts Australian lives at risk

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