Introduction

First aid is an important aspect of Occupational Health and Safety. In recognition of this, Cornerstone College Cambridge is committed to providing suitably trained First Aid Officers, together with first aid facilities to administer first aid treatment.

This policy applies to all employees, students, volunteers, and contractors of Cornerstone College Cambridge and to visitors.

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide an overview for Cornerstone College Cambridge to establish first aid facilities and services for the organisation.

Definitions

First aid is the provision of emergency treatment for people suffering injury or illness at work.

First aid facilities refer to the first aid kit and/or first aid room.

Policy

Cornerstone College Cambridge is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for employees, students, volunteers, contractors and visitors. Cornerstone College Cambridge will endeavour to provide appropriate and adequate first aid treatment in the event of a person sustaining a work-related injury or illness.

Cornerstone College Cambridge will systematically identify causes of work injury and work-related illness and assess the risk of work injuries and work-related illness occurring. The appropriate first aid facilities and training will be determined, evaluated and provided.

Cornerstone College Cambridge will meet first aid legislative requirements as a minimum standard.

First aid facilities will be maintained on a regular basis.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the Principle to ensure that:

• adequate and appropriate first aid facilities are provided;
• appropriate and adequate training is arranged for First Aid Officers;
• First Aid Officers’ training is up to date and their certificates current.

It is the responsibility of First Aid Officers to:

• inspect and maintain first aid facilities;
• in the case of a work injury or work-related illness, assess if medical assistance is required;
• administer appropriate first aid in accordance with their training;
• maintain first aid records as outlined in this procedure;
• maintain confidentiality with regard to information obtained as part of their role.

Procedures

Senior Staff Members are required to determine the number of First Aid Officers required for each teaching site, taking into account legislative requirements.

First Aid  Officers

If First Aid Officers are deemed necessary for the site, Senior Staff Members should determine which employees would like to be trained as the site First Aid Officer.

The appropriate Senior Staff Member will then arrange training for First Aid Officers.

First aid facilities

The level of first aid facilities should be determined through discussions with the Human Resources Department, which will determine the type of facility required by law.

Where first aid facilities are deemed necessary, they are to be located at points convenient throughout the institution and where there is a significant risk of an injury occurring. First Aid facilities should be clearly identifiable.

First aid kit

The contents of the first aid kit must be protected from dust and damage, and be kept in a container which clearly identifies the contents and purpose. The container must be easily recognisable (for example, a white cross on a green background prominently displayed on the outside) and should not be locked.

The following items should be included, as a minimum, in a basic first aid kit:

• emergency services telephone numbers and addresses;
• basic first aid notes;
• individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressing;
• sterile eye pads;
• sterile covering for serious wounds;
• triangular bandages;
• safety pins;
• small, medium and large sterile un-medicated wound dressing;
• adhesive tape;
• elastic or crepe bandages;
• scissors;
• disposable latex gloves;
• approved resuscitation face mask fitted with a 1-way valve;
• eye wash (once-only use container) & guidance notes;
• disposable face masks;
• protective eye glasses;
• disposal bags marked “Caution – Biological Hazard”.

The first aid kit, and, where appropriate, first aid facilities, must be inspected by the First Aid Officer every month. The first aid facilities checklist must be completed and filed by the First Aid Officer following each inspection.

The First Aid Officer must notify the appropriate Staff Member if stock needs to be replenished. The appropriate Staff Member will ensure the stock is ordered, delivered and given to the First Aid Officer to restock the facilities.

First aid treatment

If a person requires first aid treatment the nearest First Aid Officer must be contacted to administer such treatment.

The First Aid Officer must record the following information:

• name and location of person;
• type of injury, if known;
• assistance provided (as below);
• urgency of matter; and
• determination if another First Aid Officer is required.

The First Aid Officer will attend to the injured or ill person and provide assistance that they consider the most appropriate. First Aid Officers must only provide assistance in accordance with their training.

Where an injury is of a more serious nature and requires the person to be referred to a doctor or taken to hospital, the First Aid Officer will determine the appropriate transport.

First aid records

When using supplies from the first aid kit the ‘First Aid Kit Log Book’ must be completed. The log book is to be kept inside the first aid kit. The following details must be entered into the log:

• date and time;
• name of injured person;
• nature of injury/illness;
• treatment provided;
• supplies used;
• name of attending First Aid Officer.

The First Aid Officer and/or an Occupational Health and Safety Representative must record details of all injuries using an Injury/Incident Report Form.

The First Aid Officer and/or an Occupational Health and Safety Representative must complete an Incident Report Form and file on site.

Reviewed by Dr Emmanuel Obikwu

In September 2023