In the event of an accident or medical emergency, first aid saves lives. Keeping the patient alive and safe until the arrival of expert professional help is a vital part of the chain of care which leads to recovery. The principle of first aid must be simple skills, clearly taught, and capable of being performed in a stressful situation by those with no medical training. Our guidelines, manuals and stories are intended to offer a basic level of first aid for members of the general public. The age-group specific material promotes the importance of first aid and helps adults and younger people to develop their knowledge and understanding of first aid, while providing awareness of potential risks and situations that may lead to injury or illness.

The contents of the materials are offered as a first edition for general use. As such they are compatible with current practise, with other specialist guidelines (for example regarding the management of burns) and with the evidence base where one exists.  Our material is updated on a regular basis by the JOIN Clinical Working Group.