The UK's first aid confidence gap: why don't more people use their first aid skills? 

Last updated 9 September 2026

First aid skills save lives, whether you're responding to an everyday accident or a serious medical emergency. The British Red Cross believes everyone should have basic first aid knowledge, and the public agrees. 

Research shows that people recognise the value of first aid, but many still lack the confidence to put those skills into practice when it matters most. 

In a 2024 survey conducted for the British Red Cross: 

• 83% agreed that everyone should have simple first aid knowledge.  
• 78% believed that more people learning basic first aid skills would make communities stronger. 

Is there a first aid confidence problem? 

People are learning first aid skills. In fact, 70% of those surveyed said they have learned first aid in some form, with more than half from face-to-face training.  

However, when it comes to putting those skills into practice, a confidence gap emerges between those who have received training and those who feel confident using it in an emergency. 

While 71% of UK adults are willing to help someone who has fallen in the street, confidence falls significantly in more serious scenarios.   

For someone bleeding heavily only 50% of respondents would feel confident enough to help, decreasing to 45% for someone who is choking. For someone unresponsive and not breathing only 41% of people felt they could try to help, while only 37% of people felt confident of supporting someone with a seizure.  

The findings suggest that confidence, rather than willingness, may be one of the biggest barriers to providing first aid. People want to help, but many are unsure whether they can apply their knowledge correctly under pressure.

Why is building confidence important to first aid? 

Confidence is a vital part of first aid because it bridges the gap between learning a skill and using it in a real-life emergency. Our research suggests that while many people have received some form of first aid training, confidence is often much lower when faced with serious situations such as choking, severe bleeding or an unresponsive casualty. 

Increasing confidence in first aid skills means people are more likely to feel prepared to step forward and help when someone needs them. 

How to build your first aid confidence   

Feeling confident about being able to administer first aid is just as important as learning the skill itself.  

“If you carry a phone with you, you should have the confidence to step in and help someone,” says William Spencer, Red Cross first aid and climate expert. “The most important part of first aid is calling for help. And just by doing that, you could be saving someone’s life.”

“Learning first aid is now so simple - and free - with our app, videos and online advice. We make it super simple by removing complex terminology, and just focusing on the one action you can take to help someone.”

“I wish everyone would have the confidence to step in and help someone in need. Remember, if you see someone struggling, just going up to them and asking if they are alright, can you get them help, is the most important thing.”

Whether you've recently completed a course or learned first aid years ago, there are simple ways to build and maintain your confidence. 

1. Refresh your skills regularly  

Like any skill, first aid becomes easier the more familiar you are with it. 

Over time, it's natural to forget steps or feel unsure about your ability to perform first aid. Regularly revisiting what you've learned can help keep the information fresh and make it easier to recall in an emergency. 

Set a reminder every few months to review key first aid techniques, test your knowledge or revisit training materials. You can also take part in a first aid refresher course, available both online and face to face.

2. Learn with our online first aid advice 

Learning doesn't stop when your course ends. We provide a range of free resources to help you refresh your knowledge and feel more prepared if an emergency happens. Our step-by-step first aid guidance covers a wide range of emergencies, with clear instructions, images and videos to help you understand what to do and answers to common questions about specific skills. 

We also have advice for children and babies, which may be different to our adult advice.  

3. Download the British Red Cross First Aid app 

Keep life-saving advice at your fingertips. Our app makes it easy to quickly access guidance in an emergency or refresh your knowledge whenever you have a few spare minutes. This can give you peace of mind that first aid advice is only ever a few clicks away.

Learn more about our free first aid apps

4. Watch first aid videos  

Seeing a first aid skill broken down in a video you can pause and rewatch can help it feel more familiar and less intimidating if you ever need to use it in real life.  

Our survey found that 24% of people would be encouraged to learn first aid through clear, step-by-step videos, while more than a third (37%) said they would be more likely to use their first aid skills after watching a demonstration first. 

Many of our first aid skills including choking and first aid for burns have been broken down into easy-to-follow step-by-step videos. Watch them at your own pace, make notes and repeat as often as you need to, to help the skill sink in or remind you of what you learned in a course. 

Watch our first aid videos

5. Focus on the emergencies you are most likely to encounter  

Many people imagine first aid emergencies as rare or dramatic situations, but some of the most witnessed incidents are everyday occurrences such as head injuries (28%) and panic attacks or hyperventilation (27%). 

Starting with common scenarios can make first aid feel more relevant and manageable. As your confidence grows, you can expand your knowledge to cover more serious emergencies such as choking, severe bleeding and someone who is unresponsive and not breathing. 

Or, if you are learning a first aid skill for a specific or personal reason then practice and revisit that advice more regularly, so you are ready should you need it.  

6. Learn with others 

Confidence often comes from having a support system around you.  

Watch videos with friends, discuss scenarios with family or address any work-related first aid concerns with colleagues. Talking through the steps you would take in an emergency and sharing knowledge will help you feel more confident in your skills. Knowing your partner or friend is also first aid trained may help you feel less nervous about responding in an emergency.  

It might also help identify any areas you’re feeling particularly unconfident about that you can revisit.  

7. First aiders aren’t experts 

One of the biggest barriers to responding is the fear or getting it wrong. However, first aid is about doing the best you can with the knowledge you have – not being perfect. First aid advice has been designed specifically for people without medical skills or knowledge. Advice is designed to be easy to follow and simple enough to remember in an emergency.  

Learn first aid and use your first aid skills with confidence 

Mark World First Aid Day on 12 September 2026 by learning or refreshing your first aid skills. 

The British Red Cross provides a range of accessible ways to learn first aid from free online resources to in person training.