Can you save a life?

Opinion
The 12-month period to June 2016 has seen an 8.5 per cent increase in the number of road deaths in Australia, with a total of 1269 (1170 the year prior). These are concerning statistics, and they prompted the Australian Automobile Association's Chief Executive, Michael Bradley, to call for urgent action.

Last year, St John Ambulance called on the Federal and State Governments to make all new drivers and people renewing their licences to undertake a basic online first-aid course.

"The difference between life and serious injury or death can be a matter of minutes, and it is for this simple fact that first aid is so important," said Tony Ahern, CEO, St John Ambulance Western Australia.

"Performing first aid before the ambulance arrives can often be the difference between life and death. It can also prevent more serious injury."

First-aid training is already compulsory for drivers in many European countries including Germany, Austria and Hungary. In Switzerland, prospective drivers even have to prove they have received at least 10 hours of certified first-aid training to qualify for a driving theory test!

And in recent news, residents applying for a driving licence in Dubai now have to undergo first-aid and emergency training as part of measures to reduce the road toll in the UAE.

Australia may not be the 'nanny' state after all, with approximately 13-14 per cent of Australians currently holding first-aid qualifications.

Let's take a look at the current level of first-aid training in driver tests around Australia. In the Northern Territory, learner drivers can complete an online first-aid training course called First@Scene. It's a St John Ambulance NT project initiative aimed to reduce road accident deaths and serious injury. The course material is presented in an interactive manner and on finishing the course the student receives a certificate of completion.

It's a great initiative but, again, it's not compulsory. The reality is only one in 20 people in the NT currently have the first-aid skills to save the life of a road accident victim.

South Australia's Driver's Handbook has a first-aid section that outlines how to clear the airway of an injured person and control bleeding.

The VicRoads Driver's Handbook outlines how to 'manage risk' and what you can do immediately after a crash. You will also come across this line: "To learn basic first aid such as CPR, you will need to undertake an appropriate course”.

But who will be inspired to take a course? And how will the average person know which course is 'appropriate'?

Let's say I drive into trouble in a remote area with no reception, and my passenger is left unconscious. It will invariably take a significant amount of time for paramedics to arrive at the scene. The basic guidelines in the driver handbooks have hardly instilled in me the confidence to apply first-aid skills.

So, I'm leaning towards the push to make first-aid training mandatory for new drivers.

And don't even get me started on defensive driving courses…

Why shouldn't approved examples at least be offered to new drivers as an option? Shouldn't all drivers be equipped with a grounding in vehicle dynamics and handling, and be given the chance to practice things like emergency braking in a safe, controlled environment?