A potential client recently told me they only wanted to train with St John Ambulance because “they provide insurance so learners are covered to give first aid.”

It’s an understandable worry. Nobody wants to help in an emergency and then get punished for it. But here’s the key point:

In the UK, you don’t need special “first aider insurance” to step in and help someone. The law already gives strong reassurance to people who act responsibly, in good faith, and in an emergency.

The legal reassurance people don’t often know about is enshrined in what is commonly known as the ‘SARAH Act’ 2015.  In England and Wales, the Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act 2015 tells civil courts that when they’re deciding a negligence claim, they must consider whether the person being sued was acting for the benefit of society, trying to do the right thing, or acting heroically in an emergency.

In plain English: the court is instructed to look kindly on Good Samaritans who step forward to help. It’s not a magic invisibility cloak, but it is a firm nudge in the direction of “We’re not here to punish people for trying.”

But could I still be sued?

Technically, anyone can try to bring a claim. In reality, there are no successful UK negligence claims against a lay first aider who acted in good faith in an emergency.

Resuscitation Council UK’s legal guidance on CPR/AED use makes the same general point: when someone acts in an emergency, the circumstances are central to judging what was reasonable, and liability is not something that hangs over ordinary rescuers like a cartoon anvil.

The “reasonableness” rule

There’s a golden thread through UK guidance:

Do what is reasonable in the circumstances and within your training.

That doesn’t mean “be perfect.” It means:

• Ask for the casualty’s consent (if they’re able to give it – if not, it is assumed in law)
• Call for help (999/112) early
• Do the basics you’ve been trained to do
• Don’t attempt procedures you haven’t been taught
• Stay with the casualty until more help arrives if you can

Courts don’t expect superhero medicine from a member of the public. They expect a reasonable attempt to help.

So why does the misconception persist that you can be sued, and therefore need insurance?

There are cases where litigation can be brought due to first aid provision – but it’s against the organisations who fail to have first aid provision in place (i.e. enough trained first aiders, at the right level of training, and relevant first aid equipment), NOT against first aiders or their actions. Healthcare professionals can be sued for getting it wrong – but that’s because it’s their job to get it right.  This litigation ability doesn’t extend to first aiders whose roles are not healthcare related. And (probably most importantly) we hear all sorts of horror stories from across the Atlantic where litigation culture and huge damages have played their part it stopping human beings from helping each other with basic (but sometimes lifesaving) skills. 

I’m proud that our legal system has a strong, basic law in place to help prevent that litigation culture and allow humans to help other humans – but it’s worthless unless people know it exists and feel safe in the knowledge that their actions will not be detrimental to them.

The biggest risk in many emergencies isn’t that someone helps imperfectly – it’s that nobody helps at all.  A person who collapses and stops breathing can’t afford a committee meeting in your head. They need:

• someone to call an ambulance,
• someone to start CPR if needed,
• someone to use the defib if available,
• someone to stay calm and keep things moving.

If your brain starts shouting “What if I get in trouble?” try this instead:

Good faith. Reasonable action. Within training. Call for help.

That’s the real-world “insurance policy” that matters.  First aiders don’t need insurance – they already have it.