If you have ever hesitated to help someone because you were worried about being sued, you are not alone. The Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act 2015 (SARAH for short) makes sure a court takes into account the fact that you were trying to help. It does not give you automatic protection, though. Let me explain what it does and doesn’t do.
Short answer: In England and Wales, nobody can promise a claim will never be made, and the SARAH Act does not give blanket immunity. It does mean a court must take into account that you were helping someone, acting responsibly or stepping in during an emergency. HSE says legal action against a first aider using their training is very unlikely.
What is the Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act 2015?
SARAH is a law in England and Wales with a name so long that I need a sit down before I say it out loud. It does not apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland. In plain English, it means courts must take the circumstances into account when someone was acting for the benefit of society or other people.
It applies to claims of negligence and breach of statutory duty. In other words, it comes into play if someone says you did not take enough care or did not meet a legal duty.
A quick note before we go any further. I’m a first aid trainer, not a solicitor, so this is a general explanation and not legal advice. If you need advice about a specific situation, please speak to a legal professional.
Can you be sued for giving first aid in England and Wales?
This is the question most people actually type into a search bar, so let’s be honest about it. The Act does not give blanket immunity. Nobody can promise that a claim will never be made.
What the Act does is require a court to take the situation into account when it decides what care someone should reasonably have taken. Helping in an emergency is not the same as acting in a calm, quiet, well-lit room with all the time in the world.
The Act was designed to reassure people who step in, in good faith, and do their best. I can’t give you guarantees, but I can tell you that the spirit of the Act is to support people who help, not to put them off.
What the Act says about courts and the three key considerations
The Act says the court must consider three things when it is deciding a claim that a person was negligent or in breach of a statutory duty. In everyday language, they look like this:
- Acting for the benefit of society or others. Were you acting for the benefit of someone else, or the wider community?
- A predominantly responsible approach. In what you were doing, did you take a mostly responsible approach to protecting the safety or other interests of other people?
- Acting heroically by intervening in an emergency. Did you step in during an emergency to help someone who was in danger? (Do not worry, you do not need a cape.)
These are my plain English summaries, so please check the exact wording against the Act itself on legislation.gov.uk. The precise wording matters, and I’d rather you read it from the source than rely on my paraphrasing.
Does the SARAH Act apply to workplace first aiders?
This is where things get a little more nuanced. The Act is not limited to passers-by, so a court can take it into account in any negligence claim. But workplace first aiders usually give first aid as part of arrangements their employer has to put in place, which is a different situation from a passer-by helping a stranger in the street.
Those employer duties come from the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, and current HSE guidance explains what employers are expected to think about and provide.
On the question of being sued, the HSE says it is “very unlikely that any action would be taken against a first-aider who was using the first-aid training they have received”. It cannot give specific advice on this, and suggests asking a legal adviser or your employer’s insurance broker.
If you are an employer, it is worth checking your own insurance and arrangements so you know how your first aiders are covered. I can’t advise on insurance or the law, so your insurer or a legal professional is the right person to ask.
Why good first aid training still matters
Here’s the practical bit. Being trained helps you act calmly, sensibly and within what you have been taught. That confidence is worth having whatever the law says.
All our first aid courses at H2H Training are accredited by FAIB. Depending on your needs, you might look at:
- Emergency First Aid at Work (1 day, from £85)
- Basic Life Support and AED (3 hours, from £50)
- First Aid at Work (3 days, from £210)
These are “from” prices per person and may change, so please check before booking.
The best preparation is knowing what you are doing.
Key takeaways
- The SARAH Act exists to reassure people who step in to help.
- It applies in England and Wales only.
- It does not give automatic protection or blanket immunity.
- Courts must consider whether you were acting for the benefit of others, took a predominantly responsible approach, and were intervening in an emergency to help someone in danger.
- Workplace first aiders should look at current HSE guidance and check their employer’s arrangements and insurance.
- Training builds confidence and helps you act sensibly.
- This is general information and not legal advice.
If you would like to talk about first aid training for you or your team, get in touch with H2H Training and say hello.
Written by Rachel Hawkins, FAIB-registered trainer at H2H Training. Last reviewed October 2026. Rachel on LinkedIn
