Methodology for teaching first aid as part of driver training

Around 600 people die in traffic accidents in the Czech Republic every year, 25,000 are injured, 2,500 of them seriously. Around 1.25 million people lose their lives worldwide in traffic accidents every year, and 50 million participants in traffic accidents are injured. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for people aged 15-29 and the second most common cause of death in the 5-14 age group.

One of the factors that can significantly affect both the percentage of death and the severity of injury consequences is timely and correctly provided first aid. At the same time, its goal is not only to ensure the early arrival of professional health workers. As statistics show, 50% of deaths in traffic accidents occur before the arrival of emergency services. According to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), around 50% of deaths occur within minutes of an accident. In the case of cardiac arrest, brain death begins after only 4 minutes. Every minute the chance of survival decreases by 10%. Given that the average arrival time of Emergency Medical Services in the Czech Republic is around 8-15 minutes, it is evident that quick intervention must take place even before the arrival of professionals. Lay rescuers from among the accident witnesses play a key role in saving life and health in such a case. According to the estimates of the Red Cross, timely and correctly provided first aid has the potential to save up to 10% of lives. Well-trained rescuers are also better able to ensure their own safety and are less likely to become additional victims of traffic accidents.