We celebrate World First Aid Day at the dawn of September. This year, to honour lifelong first aid learning, we speak to Kalai Selvi, Singapore Red Cross Academy's Principal Adjunct Instructor, on the importance of learning first aid to protect ourselves and our loved ones and also to build a resilient, safer community.

Most of us buy insurance policies without much thought. We do so because we want a safety net if something untoward were to happen to us or to those we love.

So then, what makes learning first aid any different?

"Life is unexpected,” says Kalai Selvi, 47, of the Singapore Red Cross Academy. “When faced with an emergency, how one reacts to it is crucial, and a solid knowledge of first aid greatly affects how a casualty fares.” 

There is a grave truth in those words that few are able to recognise.

Accidents can happen anytime and anywhere. And anyone, of any age, from any walk of life, can make the difference between life or death in an emergency. 

How? 

By having knowledge of first aid.

Why learn first aid?

Photo by Paras, Volunteer

First aid is the first and immediate assistance given to a person with an injury — exactly as its name suggests. Being able to administer First Aid is important. It is so important that it is enshrined in Singapore’s Total Defence strategy — where having at least one first aider in every home is a national goal.

Every second matters as chances of survival drop by 7 percent to 10 percent every minute1.

If everyone — from all age groups — knows how to not only respond, but also to identify, and prevent accidents from happening, the chance of saving someone in an emergency can be greatly enhanced. 

For instance, to prevent domestic accidents, children can be taught to identify potential threats in their surrounding environment. Moreover, in a rapidly ageing population, where people aged above 65 represents 1 adult out of 6 in 20502, it becomes imperative for more older people to be trained in first aid. 

Singapore is a nation that is highly susceptible to global economic headwinds. With headlines such as “Price Hike in Vegetables!” or “Malaysia Suspends Exports of Chicken!” making the front page news, it is often hard to imagine a situation that will necessitate administering first aid. 

But, as our world becomes increasingly volatile, and geopolitical tensions rapidly escalate, it becomes critical to have a wide, ready and trained pool of citizens who can respond appropriately and act quickly in an emergency. 

Taking the first steps to learning first aid

Most people want to learn first aid, but few actually get around to doing so. A recent study revealed that although 89.1 percent of Singaporeans believed that adults should be trained in first aid, only 34.3 percent3 actually were.

What then, holds us back from picking up this integral life skill? 

According to Ms Selvi, who has more than 15 years of experience teaching first aid, the reasons can vary from thinking that we can manage without learning first aid to an unwillingness to refresh one's first aid skills, thinking that not much has changed. Some people feel it is best left to the experts, as an ambulance is just a phone call away. 

Some of us may be under the impression that learning first aid is a big endeavour. But in reality, it is easy and hassle-free. The Singapore Red Cross Academy offers accredited first aid courses: the Basic First Aid course can be done in a day, while the Standard First Aid course takes only two days. 

Ms Selvi points out that with training and certification in first aid, one can convey a clearer picture to the paramedic, which enables the casualty to receive the exact medical attention needed. “In an emergency, that is the only way you can really help a patient.”

Photo by Paras, Volunteer

First aid learning is a lifelong process, and as Ms Selvi says encouragingly, can start at any age. She also urges those with first aid skills to get them refreshed regularly.  

A resilient Singapore is one that can survive, adapt and thrive regardless of the stresses and shocks we face. 

Building a safer community starts with citizens like you and me. Equipped with first aid skills, you can then join the SGSecure Responders Network, to enhance community resilience, so we can always be prepared for emergencies.

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¹ - According to the Singapore Civil Defence Force's website. https://www.scdf.gov.sg/savealife/about 

² -  United Nations Secretariat. 2019 Revision of World Population Prospects, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2019.

³ - National population-based survey on the prevalence of first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator skills in Singapore.

By Agarwal Amit Kumar, Volunteer
Copyedited by Heidi Boon, Volunteer
Cover Photo by Billy Wong, Volunteer