Professional Health & Safety Trainers In Frinton-on-Sea

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. These Regulations apply to all workplaces including those with less than five employees and to the self-employed. What is 'adequate and appropriate' will depend on the type and number of workplace hazards and risks, the size of the organisation and other relevant factors such as shift patterns and the distance from external medical services etc. As a minimum, you must have: a suitably stocked first-aid kit an appointed person to take charge of first aid arrangements; information for all employees giving details of first-aid arrangements. The Regulations do not place a legal duty on employers to make first-aid provision for non-employees such as the public or children in schools. However, HSE strongly recommends that non-employees are included in an assessment of first-aid needs and that provision is made for them. For further guidance on how many first aiders you need for your workplace, see the Legal Requirements section of our website.

First Aiders are trained members of staff that provide immediate medical assistance to someone who is injured, sick or experiencing a medical emergency. This involves: · Assessing and controlling the scene · Providing initial care by administering appropriate first aid to stabilise the person’s condition, prevent their condition from deteriorating and/or promote healing. · Getting professional help · Communicating with the casualty and others · Monitoring and reassuring the casualty · Keeping accurate records · Ensuring all training is up-to-date

The chain of survival is a series of actions that, when properly executed, reduce the mortality associated with sudden cardiac arrest. It includes early recognition, early access, early CPR, early defibrillation, and early advanced life support. First Aid is vital to the chain of survival and allows us to “buy time” until the ambulance arrives.

Bystander CPR can significantly increase the chances of survival for someone experiencing sudden (out-of-hospital) cardiac arrest. Studies show that early and effective bystander CPR can double or even triple a victim’s survival rate. When bystander CPR is performed within the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, the survival rate can be as high as 40%. This is compared to much lower survival rates when no CPR is provided, which can fall to 5-10%.

The contents of your first aid kit should be based on your first aid needs assessment, taking into account the number of staff and the type and severity of harm likely to occur. First Aid kits should be checked and maintained regularly. Used items will need to be replaced and many items, particularly sterile ones, have expiry dates that need to be observed. As a guide, where work activities are low-risk (for example, desk-based work) a minimum first aid kit might contain: a leaflet with general guidance on first aid disposable gloves sterile wipes (non-antiseptic) individually wrapped sterile plasters of assorted sizes large and medium-sized sterile, individually wrapped, unmedicated wound dressings sterile eye pads individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile safety pins sterile eye wash For high-risk environments, additional kit such as homeostatic bandages, tourniquets etc, should be provided.

It is highly unlikely that you will be sued for doing first aid. When providing first aid in good faith, there is a degree of legal protection within the United Kingdom. In 2015, across England and Wales, The Social Action, Responsibility, and Heroism (SARAH) Act was introduced to provide legal safeguards for individuals who give reasonable assistance to an ill or injured person. This legislation advises courts to consider whether the individual was acting for the benefit of society, took a responsible approach, or acted heroically in an emergency situation, when evaluating allegations of negligence. However, if your actions as a first aider are considered negligent, reckless, or outside the scope of your training and competence, legal consequences may ensue. To reduce potential liability: · Use only first aid techniques that you are trained in. · Always seek professional medical assistance when necessary. · Document the care provided accurately and thoroughly. · Ensure your first aid training is current and participate in regular refresher courses. While we cannot provide legal advice, the key point is that acting in good faith to help save someone's life or prevent further injury carries minimal risk of being successfully sued.

The priority when you are alone at the scene of an accident or medical emergency depends on the casualty and the severity of the situation. For unconscious casualties, you should generally prioritise calling 999 first. Nowadays with mobiles and hands-free technology we can often call an ambulance whilst treating the casualty, however if you need to leave your casualty to get help, observe the following: 1) Children (under 18s)- Perform 1 minute of CPR before leaving to get help 2) Unconscious but still breathing- Put in recovery position to maintain the airway before leaving to get help 3) Bleeding- Control the bleed before leaving to get help Once you have called for an ambulance, return to the casualty and continue with any necessary treatment. If the illness or injury is not a serious emergency but may still require hospitalisation, for example a burn, broken bone, etc. you can administer first aid to prevent the condition from deteriorating such as cooling burns and stabilising fractures, before leaving to get help.

An automatic external defibrillator (AED) is a portable device that delivers an electric shock to the heart muscle through the chest wall in order to restore a normal heart rhythm. It is designed to be almost entirely automated so that it can be used by persons without substantial medical training who are responding to a cardiac emergency. All you need to do is turn it on, listen and follow the instructions. Many workplaces have their own AEDS and there is an entire network of Public Access Defibrillators across the country; the emergency services will be able to direct you to the nearest one available when you call. If you’d like to learn more about using an AED, get in touch and book your training place today!

There is absolutely no reason why a qualified first aider cannot remove splinters, if they are partly exposed, and easily removed with tweezers. If splinters are deeply embedded, advise the casualty to seek professional medical help. However, please note that you should refer to your specific school/company policy, as this takes precedence over this general guidance.