A newly released review of New Zealand health data reveals a confronting truth: emergencies don’t usually happen in public, they happen at home, to the people you love.
In 2024, more than 2,500 New Zealanders suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. According to the national registry, 72% of these incidents occurred in private residences. Yet, research shows just 18% of Kiwis feel “very confident” performing CPR.
“Many people think first aid is something you’ll use on a stranger, but statistically, it’s more likely to be your partner, your parent, or your child,” says a spokesperson for MediTrain, a nationwide first aid training provider. “The ability to act quickly in those first few minutes is critical.”
Further data from ACC backs this up: over 1.4 million injuries now occur in New Zealand homes each year, making the home — not the workplace — the most common site for accidents.
In response, MediTrain has published a public-facing summary of these findings, including:
– Cardiac arrest survival rates by setting
– Injury trends in the home and community
– Confidence gaps in CPR knowledge
– First aid training participation figures
The full article is available now on the MediTrain website:
Read the statistics https://www.meditrain.co.nz/news/11-08-2025/only-18-of-kiwis-feel-confident-to-give-cpr-why-first-aid-courses-matter/
For those ready to take action, MediTrain offers a range of NZQA-approved first aid classes across New Zealand — from one-day blended courses to workplace certifications. Courses are designed to be hands-on, engaging, and tailored to real-life emergencies.
Media Release on 18 August 2025
Media Contact
Adrian Brown, Meditrain
adrian@meditrain.co.nz
09 636 1377
https://www.meditrain.co.nz/