A new study by St John Ambulance reveals a troubling gap between workplace goodwill and actual emergency capability.
While almost four in five employees—79%—genuinely care about their colleagues and go out of their way to help, many would be unable to assist in a medical crisis such as cardiac arrest or severe bleeding.
The research found nearly one in three people (29%) has experienced a time at work when no one present had first-aid skills.
Alarmingly, among those who have training, over 40% reported being the only person on site with such skills, leaving themselves and others at risk.
The study also revealed deeper underlying issues: nearly a quarter of employees (22%) have never received any first-aid training, and among those who have, over one-fifth (22%) have outdated qualifications—older than five years—possibly rendering their skills ineffective.
Lisa Sharman, National Head of Education and Commercial Training at St John Ambulance, emphasised the disconnect between empathy and preparedness: “From cups of tea to emotional support, employees are there for each other—but many don’t know what to do in an emergency.”
September’s Save a Life campaign aims to bridge this gap by urging organisations to increase workplace training.
As proof of how quick and impactful this can be, the charity notes that employees spend time each week making tea and coffee—enough to complete a basic first-aid course that could equip them to respond to crises like choking or cardiac arrest.
Failing to have multiple, trained first-aiders isn’t just an emotional issue—it poses serious safety risks and leaves workplaces vulnerable to legal and reputational consequences.
