Overview:
Response time is an important factor in saving the lives of patients and injured individuals. In reference to the Quranic verse, “And whoever saves one—it is as if he had saved all of humanity" [Al-Ma'idah: 32], World First Aid Day aims to raise public awareness of the importance of first aid and its role in saving lives during accidents, emergencies, and crises. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched World First Aid Day in 2000. It is observed annually on the second Saturday of September to emphasize the importance of making first aid skills accessible to everyone and strengthening communities' ability to respond safely and promptly in emergencies.
Objectives:
- Raise awareness of the importance of first aid and its role in reducing complications from injuries and emergencies.
- Encourage community members to acquire basic first aid skills through accredited training.
- Strengthen the ability to respond safely and appropriately to accidents and emergencies until specialized medical care arrives.
- Correct misconceptions and unsafe practices related to first aid.
- Strengthen community preparedness for emergencies and disasters and support access to training for different groups.
Facts:
- Early first aid intervention can contribute to improving outcomes in some emergency situations.
- First aid begins by ensuring the safety of the incident scene, the first aider, and the injured person before providing assistance.
- In out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, immediate CPR performed by a bystander can double or triple the chance of survival.
- Emergencies can occur in workplaces, even in low-risk environments such as offices, including cardiac arrest and stroke.
- Drowning causes approximately 300,000 deaths globally each year, and prompt response and appropriate first aid may help save the affected person.
Official Date:
Globally: September 8th, 2026.
Locally: Sha'ban 26th, 1448H.