Toyota celebrates new army of young life savers

More than a quarter of a million children have gained practical life-saving skills through the three-year British Red Cross Don’t Be a Bystander campaign, supported by Toyota. The project, which concludes this week, has also provided more than half a million UK youngsters aged nine to 13 with key information on roadside first aid.

Toyota’s backing for the campaign supported its global ambition to improve road safety and eliminate traffic accident fatalities.

Since 2005, British Red Cross staff and volunteers have travelled nationwide visiting schools and hosting free public road shows in shopping centres, theme parks and festivals, introducing children to the basics of first aid in a simple and fun-to-learn format.

TV presenter and Red Cross ambassador Konnie Huq said: “The campaign has been an incredible success in reaching so many young people with first aid training – an essential life skill. Our key message throughout has been ‘Don’t be a bystander. Be someone. Learn first aid.’ and these young people are now equipped to make a difference when it really matters.”

Mark Hall, Toyota Marketing Director, said: “We are delighted to have been part of this successful campaign. To have trained more than 250,000 young people in the three years since it began is a tremendous achievement. As a major motor manufacturer Toyota bears particular responsibility towards road safety. Working with the British Red Cross in this way has supported our vision to reduce deaths caused by traffic accidents to zero.”