Why First Aid Training Matters Under Martyn's Law

In an emergency, staff are often the first people on the scene. Learn why first aid training is a vital part of Martyn's Law preparedness.

The introduction of Martyn’s Law is designed to help organisations better understand, prepare and protect people in the unlikely event of a terrorist incident or any major emergency. At its heart, Martyn’s Law is not only about preventing harm, but about being ready to respond when it matters most.

While planning and putting security measures in place are important, and can aid with preparedness, knowing what to do in those critical moments will take you further. Having the skills and confidence to act in minutes can make a difference in saving a life.

This is where first aid training becomes essential to Martyn’s Law preparedness, and where St John Ambulance can help your organisation take the next step.

Read our practical guide for businesses

Preparedness vs Prevention: Understanding the Difference

When event spaces and organisations think about safety, the first priority is often prevention.

Whether that’s reducing risk with security cameras and bag checks, or with policies and planning. However, with Martyn’s Law, while prevention measures are important to be put in place, incidents can still happen, which is where preparedness is key.

How can staff be prepared?

  • Ensuring they know how to respond quickly and safely
  • Recognising what their role is in an emergency
  • Knowing what support they can offer others until help arrives

As mentioned in the Standard vs Enhanced Tier article, Martyn’s Law is essentially about making sure staff and organisations know what to look for, how to respond in emergencies and being better prepared at keeping people safe. This is why St John Ambulance outlines first aid training as one of the most effective ways of building upon preparedness.

Learn more about Martyn's Law Standard and Enhanced Tiers

The First Five Minutes After an Incident

The first few minutes in any emergency are the most critical. Especially since emergency services may not arrive immediately, meaning quick action is vital. That could be anything from controlling bleeding, placing an injured person in the recovery position or providing support and reassurance to those around.

These first aid actions can save lives.

First aid training helps staff to:

  • Assess situations calmly
  • Prioritise the most urgent needs
  • Take immediate action

Without training, staff and people may feel hesitant to respond, not feel confident enough to act or feel unsure about how they can help. However, being equipped with the right skills and knowledge would mean they would be able to step up and act quickly and effectively. Especially in high-pressure situations where seconds matter – first aid training can replace uncertainty with clarity.

Help your team feel prepared when it matters most

Why Staff Are Often the Real First Responders

In many public areas, there are people already on site, whether they’re staff, event teams, or volunteers, and that makes them the real first responders.

Why?

  • They’re the closest to the incident
  • They can act immediately
  • They’re responsible for providing support before emergency services arrive

This makes it even more necessary that staff are first aid trained so they can provide immediate support to injured individuals, recognise life-threatening conditions and provide support where they can.

By first aid training staff, organisations will be actively putting in measures to protect life in crucial moments, instead of relying on the arrival of external help, which could take minutes that someone may not have.

How First Aid Training Builds Confidence – Not Fear

Often, when talking about being prepared in an emergency, it can feel overwhelming, especially to the staff. But by providing first aid training, it builds confidence instead of creating fear. Obtaining the right first skills reduces panic and uncertainty and replaces it with a clear sense of knowing what to do to help until emergency services arrive.

At St John Ambulance, first aid training is designed to be practical, easy to follow and help learners feel capable of performing first aid, instead of anxious and incapable. With our first aid training, we include scenario-based learning, which allows learners to rehearse situations that they may experience, but in a safe environment.

This way of learning helps them:

  • Understand how an incident may occur
  • Practise their response step by step
  • Feel more prepared if something does happen

Being prepared by undergoing first aid training is about empowering people to respond effectively when it matters most.

Why First Aid Training is Central to Martyn’s Law

With Martyn’s Law coming into practise, it places a responsibility on organisations to take the right steps to improve safety and reduce harm. While these policies and risk assessments are essential, they’re only truly effective if people know how to act on them in real life. Which is why first aid training is central to Martyn’s Law.

As in a real-life emergency, human action determines how quickly help is given and how well a situation is managed, not documentation. Without first aid training, emergency plans can still fall short in moments when they are needed most.

Turning Compliance into Real-World Capability

Meeting the requirements of Martyn’s Law may feel like a compliance exercise that’s focused on policies and procedures. But effective workplace preparedness goes beyond compliance and turns it into building capability. Whether that’s within organisations or within teams, so your employees can respond safely and effectively in unpredictable situations.

Equipping staff with the ability to act quickly when needed, to know how to support others and how to respond with purpose, helps turn uncertainty into confidence. Investing in workplace preparedness means creating safer environments and ensuring that if the worst does happen, help is already on hand before emergency services arrive.

And that’s where first aid training makes all the difference.

Build confidence with practical first aid training

FAQs

Why is first aid training important for Martyn's Law?

Martyn's Law focuses on preparedness, prevention and reducing harm. First aid training helps staff understand how to respond safely, support casualties and take action while waiting for emergency services to arrive.

Does Martyn's Law require first aid training?

It's not required, but it is recommended for organisations, venues and premises under the Enhanced Tier. However, Martyn's Law focuses on improving preparedness and response capabilities, and first aid training is one of the most effective ways to help staff respond confidently and support people during an emergency.

How can first aid training improve emergency preparedness?

First aid training helps those on-site respond to emergency situations calmly and take immediate action in high-pressure situations.

Why are staff considered the first responders in an emergency?

In many venues and public spaces, staff, volunteers, and event teams are already on site when an incident occurs. They can often provide immediate support before emergency services arrive.

What first aid skills could help during a major incident?

Depending on the situation, first aid skills may include assessing injuries, controlling life-threatening bleeding, and providing reassurance until further help arrives.

How does first aid training build staff confidence?

Training helps replace uncertainty with practical first aid knowledge and clear actions. Through hands-on and scenario-based learning, staff can practise responding to incidents in a safe and supportive environment.

What's the difference between prevention and preparedness?

Prevention focuses on reducing the likelihood of incidents through measures such as planning, policies and security controls. Preparedness focuses on ensuring people know how to respond effectively if an incident does happen.

What type of first aid training should businesses consider?

The most suitable training will depend on the organisation, venue and level of risk. Businesses should consider training that helps staff build confidence, develop practical skills and understand how to respond during emergencies.

Recommended reading

What is Martyn's Law?

Understand what the new legislation means for your organisation and discover practical steps to help keep staff, visitors and customers safe.

Find out more

Does Martyn’s Law apply to my business?

Learn how capacity thresholds, qualifying premises and public events affect your responsibilities under the new legislation.

Find out more

Standard vs Enhanced Tiers

Explore how the tiered approach works and what Standard and Enhanced Tier compliance could mean for your organisation.

Find out more

Preparing your business with the right first aid equipment

Being prepared under Martyn's Law means having the right first aid equipment available when it's needed most.

Find out more

Further reading