COVID-19, mental health first aid, terrorist attacks and sepsis have made it onto the pages of the 11^th and latest edition of the First Aid Manual created in partnership with St John Ambulance, St Andrew’s First Aid and the British Red Cross.   

The manual, which is the UK’s only fully authorised first aid guide, contains sections on up to the minute health and safety issues which have never been covered before. It is endorsed by St John Ambulance, St Andrew’s First Aid and the British Red Cross and is used as the official training manual for the UK’s leading first aid organisations’ courses.    

The 11^th edition is packed with step-by-step first aid advice, from emergency first aid to first aid for babies and children. It has also been revised to reflect the ever-changing world we live in and the unprecedented circumstances that the world has found itself in since the start of the pandemic. There are now different guidelines for administering CPR, from the correct PPE equipment required, to chest compressions only, for example. It also teaches and informs on how to manage other modern-day emergencies such road traffic accidents, knife crime or a terrorist event.    

Dr Lynn Thomas, Medical Director, St John Ambulance said:    

“This latest edition really is a key book for any workplace, school or family home, detailing key information on basic first aid practice as well as more modern health emergencies. A new section on spotting the signs of and treating sepsis is particularly useful, especially for parents of babies and young children, while the new chapter on mental health first aid is more pertinent than ever given the impact the last year has had on everyone.”   

One of the major issues that the pandemic has brought to the forefront is the need for employers to prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of their people. While St John delivers Mental Health First Aid courses, the new manual will include advice and guidelines to allow workplaces to recognise when their employees might be struggling with their mental health as well as offering advice on how to identify colleagues who require support and the confidence to help when required.   

Sepsis is a newly included topic in the 11^th edition manual. A life-threatening complication if not treated promptly, it can develop when the body’s response to an acute infection causes it to inure its own tissues and organs. Though it is an uncommon complication, it is responsible for one in five deaths globally, and while it can affect anyone, it is most common in the very young and very old as well as those who are immunocompromised.    

All St John volunteers are trained in basic first aid, with many then going on to begin role-specific training. #Askus how we can provide you with the skills and training that could save lives.    

The 11th edition of the First Aid Manual is available through the St John Ambulance website for £12.95 and from other retailers.