Hull Fair’s first-aid team brings care closer to the crowds

At Hull Fair, getting help can mean a short walk to a treatment post instead of an immediate journey to hospital.

St John Ambulance volunteers worked from two posts at this year’s fair, which ended on Saturday. Alongside first aiders, volunteer doctors could stitch wounds and treat people on site. Teams also helped nearby residents when crowds made access difficult for emergency services.

Local branch lead Jacky Bowes told the BBC the service saves work for Hull Royal Infirmary. The charity’s event-care guidance explains how first aiders undergo training and annual clinical competency assessments, while staffing plans consider previous incidents, activities and crowd size.

The reporting does not quantify hospital visits avoided, and the posts cannot provide X-rays or blood transfusions. Some patients still need hospital treatment.

Yet the practical value is visible: trained help is close at hand for everything from burns and falls to serious emergencies. After 130 years at Hull Fair, the service continues to connect a busy celebration with care.

Sources

• BBC News — Fair first aid: 130 years of caring for revellers
• St John Ambulance — Event medical cover