A Concerning Reality Behind the Numbers
A series of new reports published in 2025 has shed light on a worrying national trend: large portions of the population still lack basic CPR and AED knowledge — despite cardiac arrest remaining one of the UK’s leading causes of death outside hospitals.
According to surveys conducted with thousands of UK students, parents, employers and healthcare staff:
- 38% of UK students leave school without receiving CPR training
- Over 60% of workplaces lack an employee trained in AED use
- Only 1 in 20 adults feel confident performing CPR in an emergency
- 91% of parents believe schools should provide mandatory CPR training
These findings paint a stark picture of a nation underprepared for emergencies.
Why This Matters: Minutes = Survival
In out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, survival decreases by 10% for every minute without CPR.
Yet the average UK ambulance response time can be 9–14 minutes.
Without a trained responder nearby, survival is unlikely.
What the Research Shows
1. Schools Are Still Undertraining Students
Despite CPR being added to the curriculum in England, implementation varies widely:
- Some schools teach CPR annually
- Others run a single session for only one year group
- Some have no CPR training at all due to staffing or resource limits
This leaves thousands of children unprepared.
2. Workplaces Are Falling Behind National Standards
HSE recommends that employers provide:
- CPR training
- AED awareness
- Catastrophic bleeding response
- First aid for choking
However, many businesses still rely on outdated first-aid approaches that do not include modern life-support skills.
3. AEDs Are Underused Because Staff Aren’t Trained
Despite widespread installation in public places, AED usage remains extremely low. Research shows that:
- Most bystanders hesitate due to fear of “doing it wrong”
- Many staff lack hands-on AED practice
- Misconceptions persist about safety and legal liability
Training Providers Have a Crucial Role
The shortfall in public CPR competence represents a significant opportunity — and responsibility — for training organisations.
Courses in High Demand Now Include:
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- CPR & AED Training
- Paediatric First Aid / pILS
- Immediate Life Support (ILS)
- First Aid at Work (FAW) & Emergency First Aid
- Medical Emergencies training for Dental & Primary Care
These courses directly align with the gaps identified by research.
Public Interest Is Increasing
The release of the 2025 CPR guidelines, combined with real-world data, has generated new momentum for:
- Community CPR events
- School training days
- Workplace safety upgrades
- AED awareness campaigns
Training companies that align with these trends have an excellent opportunity to increase visibility and impact.
A National Movement Is Building
Charities, campaign groups and medical organisations are calling for CPR to be taught in schools every year, not just once.
Workplaces are facing new expectations to maintain trained responders as part of modern HSE compliance.
Training providers are ideally placed to support this shift by offering updated, guideline-aligned CPR and life support courses.
The Bottom Line
The data from 2025 is clear: the UK urgently needs more people trained in CPR and AED use. Training providers can step in to close this gap and potentially save thousands of lives each year.