New data has revealed that those living in the North East are the most likely in Scotland to have received first aid training in the last year.
The insights, from a YouGov survey commission by St Andrew’s First Aid, Scotland’s only dedicated first aid charity, revealed that 68% of people living in North East Scotland have been first aid trained. Of them, 14% received their training in the past year – the highest across all regions in Scotland.
The positive data continued, with nearly half (46%) of people stating they would help in a first aid emergency, 34% of whom would do so after initial hesitation. If the person was known to them, the response rose to 84% – again, the highest compared to all other regions in the country.
However, a fear of being judged by others posed a significant barrier to those in the North East (19%) in comparison to any other region in Scotland -seven percentage points above the national average.
The figures, taken from more than 1,000 respondents across Scotland, also revealed that one in ten (9%) of those in the North East admitted that they have been in a situation where they could have provided assistance but chose not to – higher than the national average (7%).
And while this national figure appears low, the reality when it comes to saving lives, is starkly different.
With 3,200 people in Scotland experiencing an out-of-hospital-cardiac arrest (OHCA) every year, and a survival rate of less than 1 in 10, the 7% who chose not to step in equates to 224 lives potentially being lost.
The fear of doing something wrong topped the list of concerns for the region (65%), with worries around making things worse following closely (59%). These anxieties echoed across the country, as the top two worries in every region.
In response, St Andrew’s First Aid has today (Monday 19 May 2025) launched a national campaign – ‘Taking the fear out of first aid’ – in a bid to bring widespread visibility to the issue and encourage more people to recognise that their fears can easily be overcome, and more lives could be saved if bystander intervention occurred.
Stuart Callison, Chief Executive at St Andrew’s First Aid, said: “This research highlights not only the importance of being first aid trained, but also how critical it is for it to be put into practice when needed.
“While the research gives us some reassurance by highlighting those in the north east are keeping their first aid training up-to-date, it’s worrying to see how many are still anxious about providing help in a first aid emergency due to fears of being judged by others. The heartbreaking reality is that more lives could have been saved through bystander intervention.
“That’s why we’re launching our campaign today to dispel some of the most common myths around first aid, to overcome these fears and help save more lives. As well as providing first aid training to as many Scots as possible, we want to be sure that those who have been trained keep their skills up to date and have the confidence to step up when needed.
“Doing something is always better than doing nothing and allowing our fears to stand in the way of taking action can be the difference between life and death for a casualty.”
Through the campaign, the charity is striving to tackle the challenges often faced in real-life situations, which for many is a fear of the unknown.
Today’s launch saw popular content creator, Mark Thorburn, grab the attention of the public on Glasgow’s bustling Buchanan Street. Passers-by were invited to take part in a challenge, which saw them asked to reach their hand into a ‘mystery box’ – and their reactions monitored.
While some simply refused, those who accepted the challenge did so with trepidation, soon to be relieved upon learning the box was actually empty. The stunt’s aim was to highlight that providing first aid isn’t as scary as people may think, nor should emotions and initial responses of anxiety or fear stand in the way of stepping in when it’s most needed.
For further information on First Aid and First Aid training, please visit: https://www.firstaid.org.uk/
