World First Aid Day 2015

12 September 2015

First aid is for everyone, everywhere

Everyone should know how to save a life. Age is no bar. First aid and ageing population builds a positive image of ageing and recognizing older people as an important resource.

More older people trained in first aid means they can take swift and effective action to reduce serious injuries, spot early warning signs for noncommunicable diseases such as strokes.

Test your first aid knowledge

How would you fair in an emergency? Answer these four questions to test your knowledge.

Question 1

Which are the most common situations that older people may require first aid for?

Question 2

You notice an older person next to you has problems with speech, feels that one side of the face is paralyzed and/or is unable to move one or more limbs. What should you do?

Question 3

Are people aged 65 years and older more prone to heat stress than younger people?

Question 4

Roughly, what percentage of hospitalizations for injuries involve people aged over 65?

First aid in action

Singapore Red Cross launches first aid programme to support an aging population

Around the world, the elderly face certain medical emergencies more frequently than others.

When Mr Yeo had a fall in 2010, his doctor suspected he was about to have a stroke. “The suffering I went through. I had given up hope for life. The doctor told me, “In your case, there is no medicine. But you can do a lot of exercises”, he said. “Then I had a second fall, and this time it was quite severe. The pain was intolerable. I needed help very badly. I asked my wife to call for help. I wished there was someone who could come forward immediately. In that moment I thought of nothing but help.”

Around the world, the elderly face certain medical emergencies more frequently than others – cardiac arrest, strokes, difficulty in breathing and falls.

For countries such as Singapore, which have a significant – and growing – elderly population and a low rate of trained first responders, this is a major problem. When older people suffer a medical emergency, those around them are often not equipped to provide help. Often people who have suffered a cardiac arrest turn up in hospital with very little medical assistance before reaching the hospital.

In order to best serve the aging population and to ensure that their health needs are adequately met, Singapore Red Cross has launched a First Aid training course for people who look after elderly friends, relatives or neighbours. It teaches these life-saving skill in a way which is both fun and easy to understand, so that anyone can take part.

Currently the Red Cross is working closely with the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and Asian Women Welfare Association (AWWA) to offer a customised First Aid for Caregivers for Elderly to all who might need these skills one day.

Besides training, they are also aiming to provide a customised first aid kit, with the goal of helping hundreds of households be more prepared for any emergency that might occur.