“First aid provision must be 'adequate and appropriate in the circumstances'. This means that you must provide sufficient first aid equipment (first aid kit), facilities and personnel at all times”. Health and Safety Executive.
These provisions should support the administrating of immediate, lifesaving first aid.
The provisions should be well advertised across the premises, ensuring all staff, visitors and guests are made aware of them.
This section will cover the key first aid equipment we strongly recommend organisations include within the first aid provisions they have in place. These provisions should be located besides one another.
Is your first aid kit adequate?
Organisations should undertake an assessment to determine if the current first aid kit, such as workplace first aid kits, are adequate for the treatment of immediate life threatening injuries.
Consider:
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do they support the treatment of those with major bleeding?
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do they support those who are not breathing as a result of unconsciousness or an obstructed airway, typically after a head injury or cardiac arrest?
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are they able to help more than one injured person?
Organisations are encouraged to speak to their first aid suppliers to ensure their provisions are adequate.
Counter Terrorism Policing, working with various lead government departments and medical professionals/organisations have introduced Public Access Trauma (PAcT) First Aid Kits.
A PAcT First Aid Kit supports the treatment of immediate, life threatening injuries such as major bleeding and those who are not breathing on their own.
PAcT First Aid Kits must be located in publicly accessible locations and areas to which people can easily access. They are designed to be used by ANY person, regardless of their level of first aid training and supports the first aid efforts until such time the emergency services arrive.
The PAcT First Aid Kit may also be used by an injured person who is able to self-treat themselves.
Further separate guidance on PAcT First Aid Kits is available and should be read in conjunction with this guidance document.
Defibrillators
A defibrillator is a device that gives a high energy electric shock to the heart of someone who is in cardiac arrest.
This high energy shock is called defibrillation, and it's an essential part in trying to save the life of someone who’s in cardiac arrest.
A defibrillator may also be referred to as a defib, an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) or a PAD (Public Access Defibrillator).
These are becoming more widespread across the country.
Further information on defibrillators can be found on the British Heart Foundation website and the Resuscitation Council UK website
Casualty stretchers
Considerations:
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how will the location and use of the stretchers be advertised?
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will training be required for their use? What, if any instructions on their use should be with the stretcher
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how many people will be required to effectively use the stretchers? Will the weight and size of the injured person make ease of use difficult?
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what injuries would the stretchers be used for? Is it practical and necessary to move the injured person? Can they be given first aid where they are?
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will the environment and architecture of the building limit their effectiveness (stairs and tight corners etc.)?
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will people know where to move injured people to? Is the route safe? Does it present greater danger?
Regardless of the above considerations, stretchers are an important first aid provision and having them in place is much better than to not.
Location for first aid provisions
As has been discussed earlier, first aid provisions should be located in publicly accessible locations.
Consider mounting them on a wall or in a cabinet so it is visible and easy to access by any person. However, consider how accessible the kit will be for a person with an injury who would require the kit to self-treat. Especially if this person cannot reach above a certain height as a result of their injury.
As with any other publicly accessible equipment, there must be due regard to the security of the kit to ensure the integrity remains intact and opportunistic crime/vandalism is mitigated. Consider the use of tamper proof seals, similar to those used on fire safety equipment such as fire extinguishers.
However, the security of the kit must NOT inhibit the accessibility and functionality of the kit when required in an emergency.
The best location for PAcT First Aid Kits
An assessment process will help determine the best location for the PAcT First Aid Kits. An example of the types of locations are illustrated in the table below:
