Part 1 - Advice for First Aiders and First Responders in the Workplace

15th April 2020

In the first of this series we present some basic advice and guidance for First Aiders and First Responders in the workplace regarding the Covid-19 situation and it’s impact on their roles.

Managing First Aid incidents where Covid-19 is suspected.

Whether we are dealing with a casualty at work or in there street, the very idea of a potential virus now reduce ones willingness to help a casualty.  There is some useful and authoritative guidance on managing casualties with suspected Covid-19:

Public Health England - Guidance for first responders and others in close contact with symptomatic people with potential COVID-19

Resuscitation Council - Statement on COVID-19 in relation to CPR and resuscitation in first aid and community settings.

First Aid Cover & Training during Covid-19

For those responsible for Business Continuity and Compliance or individuals who require a valid First Aid certificate to satisfy licensing or regulatory requirements for work will be reassured to know that the HSE has announced a 3 month extension on the validity of any certificate due to expire on or after 16th March 2020.

The HSE has stated:

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is aware that people holding Offshore Medic (OM), Offshore First Aid (OFA), First Aid at Work (FAW) or Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificates nearing expiry date, might experience disruption to access to requalification training as a result of events or circumstances generated by the coronavirus pandemic.

HSE’s current guidance on the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 is that those holding an OM, OFA, FAW or EFAW qualification should undertake to retrain before their original certificate expires and HSE strongly recommends that employers and individuals holding those qualifications should plan for requalification training well in advance of expiry dates.

If however requalification training is prevented for reasons associated directly with coronavirus or by complying with related government advice, it is reasonable and practical to extend the validity of current certificates by up to 3 months.

Anyone taking advantage of this extension should be able to describe clearly their reasons for delaying requalification training and demonstrate steps they have taken to undertake the training if required.

This guidance comes into effect for certificates expiring on or after 16th March 2020. HSE will review this matter over the coming months and will issue further statements as necessary.

Further information is available here.

Further guidance for Employees and Employers.

Public Health England has produced some great information to assist employers with managing the situation including sick pay, managing shift rotations and safe working practices.  More information is available here.

The above represents the most commonly asked questions we have been asked over the last couple of weeks.  If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch and I will try and reply as soon as possible.