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Does My Business Need A First Aid Room?

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Does My Business Need A First Aid Room?

A first aid room is a priority for anywhere where a sizeable number of people congregate. Public places and businesses should all have first aid facilities in place, whether sport centres, gyms, factories, office blocks, or construction sites. Some injuries may occur on the premises, but there may be instances when people fall ill and require immediate treatment. Effective first aid treatment can help to reduce the chances of a person’s condition becoming more serious.

Even when a first aider isn’t deemed necessary at a workplace, there should still be someone who is in charge of first aid matters. Their role will be to take care of all first aid items and facilities. It will also be down to the appointed person to make phone calls to the emergency services whenever the situation dictates.

HSE’s Introduction of Improved Guidance

The HSE is set to introduce improved guidance regarding equipment. Under HSE guidelines a workplace’s first aid room, or first aid area, is expected to have several essential items which are as follows:

  • There should be first aid signs relating to designated first aiders. Contact details, such as name, location and, if available, telephone extensions should all be known so the first aider can be contacted when necessary.
  • There should be a sink available that has both hot and cold running water.
  • Drinking water together with disposable cups.
  • Paper towels and soap.
  • Somewhere to store first aid items, ideally a cabinet.
  • Portable first aid kits stocked so that they are easy to find and quick to use. These will typically be in the form of a first aid box.
  • Refuse containers that can be operated by foot. Inside the containers should be yellow, clinical and disposable waste bags. Alternatively, a container that is appropriate for clinical waste to be safely disposed of will also be suitable.
  • A couch appropriate for medical/examination purposes should have clean pillows and have waterproof protection. As long as it’s changed when treating different casualties, a paper couch roll can also be used.
  • Ways of communication should be addressed, notably that a telephone is in place.
  • A record book will be required, and incidents attended by a first aider or similarly appointed individual will have to be recorded.

An Evacuation Chair 

Not having the appropriate equipment for moving casualties is a problem for many employers. An evacuation chair is vitally important for the majority of workplaces, as is training being given on its safe use. An evacuation chair can be used to move casualties to a first aid area, where they can be treated, or it can be used as a way of moving people out of a premises that needs to be evacuated.

An Automated External Defibrillator

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is another essential item in a first aid room/area. Cardiac arrests affect 30,000 people outside of hospitals every year, and survival rates are severely affected without defibrillation. An AED is simple to use and shocks the heart back into rhythm when a cardiac arrest has occurred.

Easy Access to First Aid Kits

First aid kits should be within easy reach for anyone carrying out first aid. They should be available to use on a casualty within a minute from the time the first aider was alerted.

Relevant, Up To Date First Aid Consumables 

Your stocked first aid consumables should reflect your workplace and the type of accidents that may occur. All items should be replaced as soon as possible after they have been used. Any first aid items that are out of date, re expiry dates, should also be replaced quickly.

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