Good Samaritans 'endangering lives'

Lives can often be saved before the emergency services arrive

Helpful motorists on Britain's roads are causing death because four out of five people do not know how to help casualties in accidents.

A new study says 98% of people are prepared to be Good Samaritans and try to help a victim, but most do not know what to do if they came across a road accident.

Worse still, the research by St John Ambulance and insurance company Norwich Union Direct says two-thirds are putting lives in danger because they are doing the wrong things.

The survey comes as the roads fill with Bank Holiday traffic as millions take to the roads for a day out.

Four-fifths of people would not know how to cope with this situation

It also found that most people do not know that unblocking the casualty's airway is the single most important life-saving technique, but three-quarters of people want to see carrying first aid kits in cars made compulsory.

Dr Tom Rogerson, medical director of St John Ambulance said: "There are 300,000 road accidents around Britain every year and 320,000 people are injured.

"Nearly everyone wants to be a Good Samaritan, but our research shows only a small minority would know the right way to help a road accident victim.

"And of those who do die on the roads, over half die before they even reach the hospital. Almost 40% of these could be saved if immediate first aid was given at the scene of the accident."

St John Ambulance and Norwich Union Direct have produced a free first aid guide and are lobbying to get first aid questions included in the driving test.