Good Habits for First Aid
• Plan and Reflect on First Aid
A safe environment is a happy workplace! If a First Aid incident occurs, afterwards the incident should be discussed and staff debriefed. Share what ifs and how you may have dealt with the incident differently. This debrief should be a safe place to discuss what happened, what action was taken and how to improve practice next time. It is also good practice to plan for possible or common First Aid scenarios. This way when something does happen, staff are capable and confident to take action.
• A well stocked and in date First Aid Kit
This one is simple but easily forgotten. It is recommended that a First Aider takes responsibility for checking and ordering items, usually monthly or more frequently if required. The most common items to be replaced are gloves, scissors and plasters. Good practice is to know your first aid kit and keep it well ordered with an accessible and logical layout.
• Visible First Aid Posters
Most working environments have staff notice boards which are the ideal place for First Aid posters. These posters act as quick, visual reminders of how to respond to First Aid situations and enable First Aid trained staff to feel confident and competent. You can find various FREE posters on the Strong Roots website by following the link below:
https://www.strongrootstraining.com/posters
Most first aid certificates are renewed after 3 years. Over this time knowledge and ability to respond naturally fades. If very few incidents are dealt with, this lack of practice reduces confidence and competence further. There is no legal obligation to provide formal training during the intervening 3-year period. However, HSE strongly recommend that first aid staff members undertake annual refresher training. This will help qualified first aiders maintain their basic skills and keep up to date with any changes in procedure. Please see the link below to access the Strong Roots online annual refresher course.