Hi.

I have another query relating to first aid. I have my own thoughts on this but would like a feel on others thoughts.
If someone receives dust in his/her eye, using an eye wash to flush it out, with no issues/concerns or injuries - is that first aid?

If it is not first aid - does it change if a First Aider flushes out the eye with no issues or concerns/injuries?

I log everything that happens, but have certain categories of where incidents go and I have niggles about whether this would be a first aid incident even though no injury/ill-health has occurred. Or whether any first aider doing anything to an employee (even if first aid was not administered but the first aider just had "a look over him") would be classified as first aid?

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Ken

If it was in connection with work I would have no hesitation to report it as a first aid incident.

If it was not, it is down to the way you do things. I get all sorts of first aid reports dealing with bycycle accidents, sports accidents etc, people flicking towels in their eyes in the morning when they have a shower, etc. and they go into our records. There is no come-back on these as we are not judged on the number of 'incidents' we record.

It is always advisable for a first aider to make a written record of what they have done.

Ken, I agree that this may (and should) be recorded as a first aid incident. If it is an incident that is directly related to work (process, substance etc) then the argument for recording as an "incident" is stronger. You may also wish to consider whether further investigation is needed in to the causes and if any changes are necessary to prevent future incidents.