14 Assessing the links between first aid training and community resilience the same neighbourhood, town or city, who for example a community may be resilient against are likely to be vulnerable to the same risks. an economic downturn but not a health epidemic. As pointed out by Twigg (2007), this does not In order to examine whether there is evidence take into account other conceptual types of of community resilience as a result of receiving communities, such as those based around a first aid training, the current research focuses shared culture or interest. In addition, people on community resilience in terms of a first aid can be members of more than one community emergency (that is, an emergency in which first at the same time, and large communities can aid could help). contain smaller ones (Twigg, 2007). Accordingly, core components of resilience The current research, therefore, considers were only included in this research if they were a community to be a group of people who considered to contribute to a community’s ability interact with each other on a regular basis to withstand or overcome a first aid emergency. and share common characteristics, interests, The key recurring components of community or activities. resilience to a first aid emergency, as identified by the British Red Cross and in external literature, 1.2 understanding community are listed below: resilience > Social connectedness – including sense of community and perceived social support The Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS), within the community (Nzegwu, 2010; Cutter, on behalf of the UK government, defines Emrich & Burton, 2009; Norris et al., 2008; community resilience as “communities and Gurwitch et al., 2007). individuals harnessing local resources and expertise to help themselves in an emergency, > Community efficacy for a first aid emergency in a way that complements the response of the – including belief in the community’s capacity emergency services” (Cabinet Office, 2011, p4). to deal with an emergency, and expectation for Accordingly, resilient communities recognise action (Daly et al., 2009; Norris et al., 2008; and value the resources they have, and actively Sampson, Raudenbush & Earls, 1997). engage with their vulnerabilities to cope with and adapt to the situation (Nzegwu, 2010). > Learning – including acquisition of information, knowledge of risks and The resilience of a community differs depending mitigation, skills, and having the resource on the scenario (Forgette & Van Boening, 2009), within the community and knowing where