Home / Safety / First Aid / First Aid Hot Topics

First Aid Hot Topics

Click on the links below to review information about first aid and related issues.

9th Edition First Aid Manual

August 21 2009

St John has published the 9th Edition First Aid Manual effective from 1 July 2009.

The revised manual includes the latest best practice and the most up-to-date first aid techniques.

First aid requirements for dive teams

October 10 2005

The ACoP (inland/inshore) requires that at least two members of the dive team hold first aid qualifications. This qualification is normally the First Aid at Work certificate issued by the Red Cross, St John’s or similar.

Hepatitis B injections for first aiders

October 10 2005

The Employment Medical Advisory Service (EMAS) recommends that employers first assess the risk to first aiders of infection and act based on that assessment.

Treating electric shock

October 6 2005

A revised poster providing advice on the basic first aid that should be administered to someone in the event of them suffering an electric shock in the workplace has been published by the HSE.

First aid at work leaflet & poster

October 6 2005

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have published a leaflet and corresponding poster on how to provide basic first aid in the workplace.

Blood borne viruses in the workplace - guidance

October 6 2005

First aiders and employers of first aiders will be interested in the HSE’s published guidance aimed at those working in environments where exposure to blood or other body fluids may occur due to the risk of infection from blood-borne viruses.

Liability of first aiders

October 6 2005

Following an enquiry from a first aider, PSSL posed a query to the HSE asking whether a first aider would be found liable if the treatment they gave failed. The HSE response was that liability would be a decision reached in a court of law based on the individual circumstances. It went on to state that employers should check the requirements of their employers liability insurance and public liability insurance to ensure that they cover the provision of first aid.