Guidance: Providing First Aid

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People at work can suffer injuries or become ill. Whether the injury or illness is caused by their work or not, it is important to give them immediate attention and call an ambulance in serious cases. You should make arrangements to ensure this happens. It can save lives and prevent minor injuries from becoming major ones. 

Guidance available on first aid

• EN 15288-1:2018. Swimming pools for public use. Part 1 safety requirements for design. Clause 5.11.
• HSE. 2018. Health and Safety in Swimming Pools. HSG179, 4th edition. Paragraph 43-52, 280-282.
• HSE. 2017. Basic advice on first aid at work. INDG347.  
• HSE. 2014. First aid at work - your questions answered. INDG214. 
• HSE. 2013. First aid at work. The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. L74, third edition
• HSE. 2013. Selecting a first-aid training provider. A guide for employers. GEIS3. 
• Resuscitation Council UK. 2017. CPR, AEDs and the law. 1st edition. 
• Resuscitation Council UK. 2017. Basic Life Support. 1st edition. 
• Resuscitation Council UK. 2016. Decisions relating to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. 3rd edition, 1st revision.
• RLSS UK. 2018. First Aid needs assessment and the RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification. 1st edition. 
• RLSS UK. 2020. Guidance statement. Administering medication. 1st edition. 
• RLSS UK. 2020. Do Not Resuscitate DNR/ DNACPR / ADRT. 1st edition. 

Do I need a first aid room?

First aid rooms should be provided for Type 1 pools and are optional for Type 2 and 3 pools. National regulations should be taken into account. The floor area should be ≥ 8m² with a height of ≥2.5 metres. The room temperature should be independent of the pool hall. Communication equipment should be provided. A washbasin with hot water is required. The route to extraction by emergency services should permit a stretcher and be ≥1.2 metres wide. Clause 5.11. 

How many first-aiders do I need? 

A minimum of one in most cases. Any additions beyond that are typically based on the nature and magnitude of the risks related to the activity. Your risk assessment will assess these risks and determine whether any further first-aid cover is required. 

Example control measures for first aid

Adequate and appropriate first aid provision for employees is required under The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. You should consider providing for your non-employees in light of your overriding duty to ensure they are not exposed to risks to their health and safety. You are required to complete a risk assessment under the 1981 Regulations to cover the first-aid provision required for your employees.

Guidance on first aid needs assessment is provided in paragraphs 45-52 of HSG179 and in HSE's L74 First Aid at Work document. If you hold a valid lifeguard qualification, it will not usually be necessary to have to take a first aid training qualification as well. The 1981 Regulations require you to have competent first aid provision and do not stipulate that an individual holds a particular qualification. A qualification does not discharge the duty that a person is competent, although it will help demonstrate this.  

Note the RLSS have a policy on administering medication to casualties, covering employees and non-employees. The Resuscitation Council UK are a key source of advice for CPR, AED and oxygen therapy guidance. NICE also provide guidance in this area. 

Citation. Jacklin, D. 2022. Guidance on first aid. Water Incident Research Hub, 3 September.