First aid – The Green Tau

4th August 2026

Resilience is about being able to cope with emergencies. Having a first kit is part of that. Ditto knowing how to administer first aid. The British Red Cross and St John’s Ambulance both run first aid training courses. They also have a downloadable handbook. Not included in a first aid kit, but nevertheless useful are essentials such as paracetamol and other such standard medications depending on what you would normally use.

As well as a first aid kit, it is sensible to have in hand spare medication if you have to take some regularly.

The British Red Cross has a useful emergency first aid app – https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/free-emergency-apps

26th May 2025

Another aid to community resilience is having people locally who have undertaken various forms of training such as first aid.

The British Red Cross have produced a detailed report on the benefits first aiders can bring to community resilience – “Being socially connected is related to an individual’s willingness to act, with those stating a willingness to act also reporting they feel part of a community, the community watch out for each other, and that people in the community are willing to,help each other.” (1)

And St John’s Ambulance highlights the benefits of mental health first aid – “Through active listening and creating a safe space for open conversations, Mental Health First Aiders contribute to a healthier and more resilient community.” (2)

There are equally benefits for communities that have the services of search and rescue volunteers. Volunteer teams cover both remote mountain terrains and flatter rural and urban areas too.

“Often when people hear the words “search and rescue “they have an image of an off-shore rescue, snow covered mountains or fast flowing waters. The Lowland Rescue teams including CRS can also be involved in fast water or weather-related incidents, but we often find ourselves having to search villages, towns and cities for missing persons.

These urban areas have many challenges including, buildings, both occupied and derelict, park land, waterways, gardens, roads and people to name but a few. The specialised Lowland Rescue training that our volunteers receive, which is always delivered to a national standard, prepares them for all eventualities.” (3)

Equally communities could benefit from having people who have fire fighting skills. (4)

(1) https://british-red-cross.relayto.com/e/assessing-the-links-between-first-aid-training-and-community-resilience-sh0pd3g0gw8pi

(2) https://www.sja.org.uk/courses/workplace-mental-health-first-aid/mental-health-first-aid/book/

(3) https://www.communityrescue.org/service/land-search-and-rescue/

(4) https://fireengland.uk/recruitment/ways-get-involved