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First aid in the workplace - What the public sector needs to know

Richard Evens, commercial training director at St John Ambulance, discusses the importance of first aid training to the public sector.

Any organisation today – regardless of whether public or private sector – has a responsibility to ensure the safety of its workers by putting in place an effective first aid strategy. For public sector organisations, this responsibility needs to be taken even more seriously, because unlike the majority of private sector organisations, those in the public sector have to ensure that not only are their staff protected, but members of the public too.

When visiting a public sector facility, be that a school, law court or leisure centre, the public must be able to expect a minimum standard of care should the unexpected happen and they were to require medical help. It is here that first aid training becomes absolutely essential.

Why first aid is important

For many people, first aid is still all too often seen as a method of dealing with cuts and grazes, rather than an essential way of swiftly treating serious medical conditions or injuries.

This is a misconception that needs to be addressed urgently as first aid training can, and does, save lives. Many people are unaware that the treatment received in the first few minutes of an emergency can make the crucial difference between life and death. It takes an average of eight to fourteen minutes for an ambulance to respond to an emergency call, but a person with a blocked airway can be starved of oxygen in as little as three to four minutes, potentially causing irreparable brain damage or death. By having someone on hand who has the appropriate skills and feels confident enough to use them, many first aid situations can be treated immediately, saving a life.

With up to 140,000 people dying annually in situations where first aid could have given them the chance to live, the need for life-saving skills cannot be overstated – whether in the public or private sector.

Understanding first aid law

Making more people aware of the regulations that underpin first aid in the workplace can only help to foster an environment in which appropriate respect is given to first aid and first aiders.

All employers, regardless of business size, have a legal obligation under The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 to protect their employees and anyone on their premises. Employers can visit the HSE website to view an Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) booklet offering guidance on complying with first aid duties. While specific requirements vary depending on the nature of the business, all employers face a ‘six pack’ of regulation under The Health and Safety at Work Act. These steps are preventative measures to ensure that first aid is not needed. However, despite the best preparation, accidents do happen and people can fall ill, and this is where first aid training comes in.

Getting first aid right

The most successful first aid provisions are those that are tailored to the risks and unique needs of an organisation as part of a wider safety management strategy.

A school, for example, will have a very different risk profile to a local authority office. This will affect the type of first aid training and equipment needed. In schools, the treatment of bleeds and head injuries is likely to be a priority, whereas office first aiders report that they are often called upon to give initial treatment to colleagues with medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart conditions.

The different types of incidents and illnesses that may occur in a specific working environment can be overlooked by a generic approach, so by tailoring their first aid provision to the needs of their employees and their publics, organisations can make sure that their first aiders are trained to respond in any circumstance.

Some workplaces also present a higher risk than others; employees working in the police or NHS face greater risks than the average office worker. The comprehensiveness of the training first aiders take should be appropriate to the level of risk.

Best practice

There is an argument that the unique status of public sector organisations – placed in the heart of our communities and publicly funded – means that they should aim to provide best practice examples of what a sensible health and safety strategy could look like.

The steps are relatively simple. Providing a clear outline of the legal responsibilities around first aid is key, but more so is fostering an environment where it is understood that first aid can and does save lives.

It centres on employee education – making everyone aware of who the designated first aiders are and why their role is so important.

Finally, for this to work a sufficient number of people need to be trained in first aid, with these skills relevant to their working environment.