Two-thirds of drivers CANNOT recognise the signs of cardiac arrest
Less than a third of motorists (28%) said they would feel confident answering questions on CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and defibrillation on the driving theory test, new research has found.
With the driving theory test to include first aid questions for the first time, Motorpoint wanted to find out how many UK car owners felt knowledgeable about basic emergency care. *
The results found that many existing motorists lack first aid knowledge and wouldn’t know how to respond in a medical emergency – suggesting there could be a knowledge gap between those on the road today and those preparing for their driving test.
When asked about lifesaving first aid, the research found that half of UK drivers already with a licence (49%) don’t know what a defibrillator does, with a third (32%) saying they don’t know how to use one. Similarly, only slightly more current motorists (35%) said they could recognise the signs of cardiac arrest.
When it came to performing emergency care, only a third of drivers (34%) would be confident performing CPR on someone and just a quarter (25%) would be comfortable using a defibrillator.
Who are you in the safest hands with?
Motorists aged 25-34 reported being the most confident in performing CPR on someone (38%) and using a defibrillator (28%). Although younger motorists are the most confident in performing first aid, drivers over 65 proved the most confident when it came to recognising the signs of a cardiac arrest (39%).
Tim Rodie, resident driving expert at Motorpoint, said: “As learner drivers prepare to take their theory test, we risk a real knowledge gap developing between motorists who would know what to do in case of an emergency and those who don’t.
“It’s important to know what to do in case of an emergency on the road. CPR and defibrillation can be lifesaving for someone in cardiac arrest. As new drivers will be covering this as part of their theory test, drivers who feel they don’t know enough on the topic can learn how to perform critical first aid through sources like the British Heart Foundation.”
Here are the British Heart Foundation’s steps to follow if you witness cardiac arrest:
Call 999 immediately
Begin chest compressions with the heel of your hand in the centre of their chest and press down firmly at a rate of two per second
Use a defibrillator as soon as it’s acquired and follow its voice prompts that’ll instruct you to deliver shocks
Continue cycles of 30 compressions to two rescue breaths
