Posted By Garry Homer
Fear of compensation claims is a cop-out because they do not want to do it for other personal reasons. Fear of blood and other fluids with the remote possibility that they might 'catch something'. Or, they may not like the idea of the test at the end of the session.

First aid in the workplace today has been diluted to the point that you are only trained to maintain life in the best possible way until the professionals arrive. Gone are the days where emergency childbirth, splinting broken bones sufficient for a hike of a few miles etc was the norm.

I suggest you open their eyes to the possibility of saving the lives of their loved-ones. This was the reason I became a First Aider many years ago. Since then: Accidents at work - one cut thumb. Accidents outside work - One road accident and my choking baby boy.

I'm grateful my employer paid for the training and the many subsequent refresher courses.

Garry

Posted By SteveD-M
The only real issue would be treatment of non-staff if your insurers where not aware of it. This has an impact for schools, colleges etc.

Agree with some of the above posts, however the insurance will only cover issues within the scope of their training. Regardless it could still result in a claim and would not cover such claims as sexual inappropriateness etc.

Posted By Paul Duell
As others have said, if they're workplace-appointed first aiders then your employee liability will cover them, because they're first aiding is within the remit of what they do for you.

Added to which - if they do their training through St John, then St John will provide them with free public liability insurance so they're covered when they're doing first aid outside the workplace as well (T's and C's apply, but that's the essence).

Other FA training orgs may do the same thing, we only use St John so that's the only one I know about.

Posted By Phil
As an employer, why not pay the £25 a year or so to the MDU, MIR or one of the many organisations who will indemnify you for using your skills outside of work (up to your trained level of course).
This is how us healthcare professionals are covered outside of work.
it should put to bed any anxiety they may have, and wont cost a fortune.
The first aider just has to send copies of their in date quals, and they send an insurance cert back.

Phil

Posted By Phil
M.I.R

0208 739 0066

Phil

Posted By jervis
Gary with reference its a cop-out because of blood etc thats no cop-out people have the right to say no to what ever they like . Just out of interest are you a first aider.I work for the nhs this may sound daft but i am not a first aider. People have there own choices not all making excuses.

Posted By Bob Youel
thankfully we are not at the USA stage yet i.e. where everybody sues everybody for whatever! - after a lot of research in this area I have concluded that its highly unlikely a person who genuinely tried to help would be held to account in a court in the UK

remember to train your people properly; inclusive of what can be done inside & outside work as first aid law covers events at work regarding employees and not the general public e.g. a teacher in a school is an employee but the children in the class are not employees

Posted By A Campbell
That's an interesting point... have you looked at ensuring first aiders are provided with adequate support and counselling as part of your risk assessment in determining how many and what level of training you require?

As a very very last resort is possibly discuss with HR regarding certain senior/manager/supervisor positions have first aid provision as part of job description or contract of employment route?

A good question for the HSE maybe to advise as if a legal requirement...how far can you go in order to provide first aid cover... depending on the work risk environment i suspect?