First aid

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 set out first-aid provision in the work place, and require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and qualified first-aid personnel.

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) recommends that organisation such as schools, which provide a service for others, should include such other individuals in risk assessments and provide for them. Schools should therefore consider the likely risks to staff, pupils and visitors, and make allowance for them when drawing up policies and deciding on the numbers of first-aid personnel. Most schools will have first-aid arrangements in place but it is strongly recommended that all schools should develop their own first-aid policies and procedures based on an assessment of local need. Schools will need to assess numbers of first-aid personnel, equipment, accommodation and recording and reporting arrangements.

All staff must be informed of the first-aid arrangements: the location of equipment, facilities and first-aid personnel, and the procedures for monitoring and reviewing the school's first-aid needs.

For further information, see Guidance on First Aid for Schools: A Good Practice Guide. See also the Health and Safety Executive First Aid website.

For information on first aid on educational visits see The Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits, sections 64 to 68.

School emergency-management plan Health and safety in schools School security Educational visits First aid Assessment of first-aid needs Appointed person First-aider Qualifications and training Materials, equipment and facilities Hygiene and infection control Recording and reporting Informing staff Evacuation procedures Calling emergency services Counselling Media handling Communicating with parents	First aid The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 set out first-aid provision in the work place, and require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and qualified first-aid personnel. The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) recommends that organisation such as schools, which provide a service for others, should include such other individuals in risk assessments and provide for them. Schools should therefore consider the likely risks to staff, pupils and visitors, and make allowance for them when drawing up policies and deciding on the numbers of first-aid personnel. Most schools will have first-aid arrangements in place but it is strongly recommended that all schools should develop their own first-aid policies and procedures based on an assessment of local need. Schools will need to assess numbers of first-aid personnel, equipment, accommodation and recording and reporting arrangements. All staff must be informed of the first-aid arrangements: the location of equipment, facilities and first-aid personnel, and the procedures for monitoring and reviewing the school's first-aid needs. For further information, see Guidance on First Aid for Schools: A Good Practice Guide. See also the Health and Safety Executive First Aid website. For information on first aid on educational visits see The Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits, sections 64 to 68.	Guidance on First Aid for Schools: A Good Practice Guide
The advice contained on this site should not be taken as an authoritative interpretation of the law. That is a matter for the courts.