World First Aid Day started in the year 2000. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) introduced it to raise global awareness of how first aid can save people's lives in everyday situations. It occurs on the second Saturday of September every year. It provides an opportunity for citizens to understand they can quickly learn skills that could save someone's life. The International Federation says World First Aid Day is to "celebrate the numbers of lives saved both by first aid volunteers and by laypersons trained in first aid." Many first-aiders recommend making first aid education a part of taking a driving test. Others say children should learn it in schools and it should be part of teachers' training.

First aid is the provision of initial care when someone is sick or injured. It is usually carried out by a normal person until medical experts or an ambulance arrives. Sometimes the first aid itself can be effective enough. Most first aid procedures are simple techniques. They require very little or no equipment but have saved millions of lives. There are key aims of first aid. The first is to preserve life. The first-aider does everything he or she can to stop someone from dying. The second aim is to prevent further harm. This could be to try and slow down bleeding or to stop a broken bone from being moved. The final aim is to promote recovery. This might include encouraging someone to breathe, or sticking a plaster on a cut.

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