One of the interesting comments that came out of the Manchester bombing is that staff from Victoria Station gave some of the initial first aid despite having no trainng. Isn't it common sense, & human nature, that you would have a go? Use anything to stem heavy bleeding? Try to remember those adverts on CPR? Follow the instructions given by a call handler after dialling 999?

I've downloaded the CitizenAid App onto my phone and persuaded many of my friends & family to do the same.

Agree with both of the above. The day someone needs training to apply a plaster is the day i start looking for a new career.

Bob,

Training is always good but in the majority of times basic first aid comes down to common sense. I'd say 99% of adults are competent enough to perform very basic first aid, the sort of first aid they'd do at home - cuts, bumps, grazes etc which is why a first aid kit in a company vehicle is always a good idea, whether there's a "trained" first aider or not.

Long story short, if someone is bleeding then i'd expect others to help them, that's just human nature. And in that sitation i'd much rather they had a supply of banadges, plasters, gloves etc, regardless of whether or not they've been on a training course or not.

Ref the comment on fighting fires without training; I've been trained to use fire extinguishers and it took 30 seconds. Pull out the pin, point and squirt. Nothing that i or 99% of the public don't already know. Training ticks a box but in reality the ability of a "trained" person to use an extinguisher vs an "untrained" person is negligable, as is the case with plasters and bandages.

Edited by user 02 June 2017 13:19:35(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

You don't need to be trained in the use of a first aid kit.  It's not only trained first aiders that access them, at least not in the places I've worked.

Most accidents requiring first aid that I've come across have been at the lower level of severity, so a plaster, or a pad has done the job.

Trained first aiders are there for the more severe inuries, many of which would need access to the first aid kit - eg heart attack, stroke, faint, concussion.

So it makes perfect sense for a kit with the basics to be carried, whether the driver is first aid trained or not.

An interesting thought Bob, one which should feature in your RA for the individual(s) who use the vans, if they are lone working and what first aid cover they have. A van first aid kit as you know is a basic one, so if there is a danger of an arterial bleed, then I would want a more substantial first aid kit, training and rule out lone person working.

Maybe you should be asking what you require in addition?

Hi, haven't seen the Citizen Aid app but British Red Cross has two free apps, one for adult first aid and one for babies and toddlers. They have simple step-by step diagnostics and treatment, with videos, and some tutorials with self-assessments. They are free and available on Google Play & iTunes. I have a three-day FAAW certificate; I also carry these apps around with me as they're a good aide-memoire even for the trained among us,

John

Trouble is being a trained first aider with stashed first aid kit isnt going to be of much benefit to me if I'm unconscious. Perhaps we should all carry a spare first aider with us at all times :-)