What are my Responsibilities as a First Aider?

You’ve completed your first aid training – and if you’ve trained with Help! First Aid Training, we’re sure that you’re feeling ready, confident and prepared to help.

But now you’re a qualified first aider…what does that actually mean in practice?

Here, we take a look at the role of a first aider, your responsibilities and how to keep yourself safe.

What is first aid and what is a first aider?

The dictionary definition of first aid is ‘simple medical treatment given as soon as possible to a person who is injured or who suddenly becomes ill’.

In plain English, it’s the immediate help you give before professional medical care takes over.

As a first aider, you’re not expected to be a doctor or nurse. Your role is to:

• Give safe, effective help in an emergency.
• Support the casualty until medical professionals arrive.
• If they are able, help them get to further care themselves.

A First Aider’s role at a first aid scene

The treatment you give could be anything from reassurance and advice to performing CPR. That’s why it’s so important to remember your training and to work within your skillset.

At Help! First Aid Training, you will have probably attend one of these courses;

Emergency First Aid at Work – a one-day training course where you will have learned the skills and knowledge to equip you with being first on scene to an emergency situation.

First Aid at Work – a three-day course which covers a wide range of medical emergencies in greater depth. 

Paediatric First Aid – a two-day course essential for anyone working with babies and children.

Find out more about Help First Aid Training’s courses https://helpfirstaidtraining.co.uk/courses 

When you arrive at an emergency, your training will guide you to:

• Assess the situation quickly and calmly.
• Call for professional medical assistance if needed.
• Protect yourself and the casualty from further harm. 
• Remember that, although you can advise your casualty to take their medication, you are not permitted to give it to them unless advised by a medical professional. An auto injector is the exception to this rule.
• Communicate clearly with the casualty and others and keep notes if appropriate.
• Monitor the casualty’s condition as you go. 
• Provide appropriate treatment until help arrives or casualty is well enough to seek professional help themselves.

Does a first aider have any other responsibilities?

Being a first aider doesn’t stop when the course ends – there’s a little ongoing responsibility too:

1. Keep your training updated - You may have a team in your workplace, who check when training needs to be renewed. If not, you need to ensure that you renew your first aid certificate every three years. If you need a refresh of your skills, Annual First Aid at Work Update courses are also available and are strongly recommended by the H.S.E. (Health and Safety Executive). https://helpfirstaidtraining.co.uk/courses/first-aid-at-work-annual-update
2. Spot and report hazards – Keep your workplace safe by flagging risks to your manager or Health & Safety team.
3. Know your Equipment – be aware of where equipment such as first aid kits and defibrillators are kept.
4. Stay compliant – Always act within the limit of your skills and training and remember to document and report any treatment you give.
5. Emergency Treatment - If your management team are able to share such information, it’s useful to know if anyone in your workplace suffers with an allergy, or any other condition that might require emergency treatment https://helpfirstaidtraining.co.uk/news/what-is-anaphylaxis-and-how-do-i-treat-it

Can you administer first aid without being qualified?

In the workplace, your employer is responsible for having enough qualified first aiders onsite. But outside of work – say you’re in the street and someone collapses – you don’t have to walk away just because you’re unqualified.

If you’re the only person around, you can give first aid within your own ability, as long as you:

• Call 999 immediately.
• Follow the instructions from the emergency operators.

Even basic help, like calling for help, or placing someone in the recovery position, can make a huge difference.

What are the legal and ethical responsibilities of a First Aider?

A First Aider should provide the appropriate care to a casualty without bias, or discrimination.

It is incredibly rare for anyone to be pursued legally for administering first aid. We are not legal experts but to our knowledge, no-one has ever been successfully sued for administering first aid in the UK.

It is important that you keep yourself safe and compliant, so make sure that you;

• Use only first aid techniques that you are trained in
• Always seek professional medical help whenever necessary.
• Document the care you have given accurately and thoroughly.
• Ensure your first aid certificate and training are up to date. 

The SARAH Act 2015 (Social Action Responsibility and Heroism) provides extra protection for those administering first aid within England and Wales.

In addition to this, first aid in the workplace is covered by employer’s liability insurance.

The instructors at Help! First Aid Training have around 200 years of combined medical and first aid experience between them and they have never heard of a case of anyone being pursued legally for administering first aid.

The truth is… the risk is tiny, but the reward could be huge. The help you give could save a life.

Book Your Training Today

Want to learn more or book a course? We’d love to hear from you!

We run regular open courses at our Shildon Business Centre in County Durham, and we can also deliver onsite training at your location. 

We cover Newcastle to Newton Aycliffe, Darlington to Durham, Hartlepool to Houghton le Spring and everywhere in between.

If you're an employer in the construction industry, don’t forget — CITB grants may cover up to 70% of your training costs.

Email: info@helpfirstaidtraining.co.uk 

Call us: 01388 417303
Website: www.helpfirstaidtraining.co.uk
CITB Info: www.citb.co.uk