A Guide to Celebrating World First Aid Day at Work

What is World First Aid Day?

World First Aid Day is held every year on the second week of September, aiming to promote extra awareness about the importance of first aid in saving lives. It has different themes every year to focus on different concerns, factoring the current social and economic climate of the world at the time.

History

World First Aid Day was pioneered by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in the year 2000. It serves as a global initiative to promote first aid education, ensuring that communities are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to respond effectively in emergencies.

Each year, the day is marked by various activities, including training sessions and awareness campaigns, often centered around a specific theme to highlight different aspects of first aid and its importance in everyday life. Today, World First Aid Day is now celebrated every second Saturday of September, with different themes each year.

Guiding Celebration Themes

Each year, the IFRC sets a theme to guide organizations, governments, and individuals for their World First Aid Day celebrations. While this day can be celebrated as how one sees fit, having a theme can help with creating more intentional initiatives that better address the current concerns of each year.

For example, last 2023, the theme for World First Aid Day was “First Aid in the Digital World,” reflecting the transition done by most of the world into more digital operations. For 2024, the theme was centered around “First Aid and Sports.” During this time, organizations were encouraged to highlight the role of first aid in ensuring productive and enjoyable sporting events for all, from athletes to spectators and other stakeholders.

This 2025, the theme for World First Aid Day will be “First aid and Climate Change.” Climate change has been a great concern for all for the last few years, especially as its effects are becoming more and more severe. Climate change can also directly cause natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and forest fires—all of which threaten human life and health. For this reason, first aid is also essential when considering the effects of climate change. Following this, the IFRC hopes for the following:

• Increased knowledge about climate change-related emergencies across the world

• More efficient emergency response planning and first aid practices when dealing with natural disasters

• Improved technological advancements to mitigate the effects of climate change and enhance first aid procedures

Importance

Proper first aid training and practices should be celebrated all year round, but World First Aid Day emphasizes the importance of first aid knowledge and training in saving lives and enhancing community resilience.

Celebrating World First Aid Day in particular helps with the following:

• Raising public awareness on the importance of first aid and improving overall occupational and workplace safety

• Empowering communities of medical and nonmedical professionals alike to participate in lifesaving acts

• Promoting accessible options for all with different approaches to first aid

How to Observe World First Aid Day in the Workplace

Workplaces have different ways to celebrate World First Aid Day through various engaging and educational activities aimed at promoting first aid awareness and skills in an occupational setting.

Here are some effective ways to celebrate this important day for workers:

Organize First Aid Training Sessions

Arrange for professional first aid training sessions for employees. This can include basic first aid skills, CPR, and the use of defibrillators. Many organizations, like the Red Cross, offer tailored training programs that can be conducted on-site or online. With the help of digital courses, this can be done in an engaging way.

For those already trained, consider hosting refresher courses to update their skills and knowledge, ensuring they are prepared for emergencies.

Host Awareness Campaigns

Conduct workshops or seminars that highlight the importance of first aid training and how it can save lives. Invite speakers from local health organizations or first aid instructors to discuss real-life scenarios and the impact of first aid.

As part of your campaigns, consider providing digital resources such as online courses and reference materials accessible on any platform. These should outline basic first aid techniques and the importance of being prepared for emergencies.

Engage Employees in Activities

Conduct mock emergency drills and simulations to practice first aid responses in a controlled environment. This helps employee engagement rates increase, all while helping workers gain confidence in their skills and understand the procedures better.

To ensure these activities flow smoothly, consider creating plans for them in advance. Manage these events with the right checklists and forms, as these can help ensure a safe and engaging time for all, standardizing quality and processes as they happen.

Promote First Aid Kits

Encourage employees to check and restock their workplace first aid kits. Provide a checklist of essential items that should be included in a first aid kit. Additionally, consider providing first aid kits for employees to take home, ensuring that they are prepared for emergencies outside of work as well.