Im having a disagreement with one of our first aiders.  My understanding is that first aiders can only recommend to someone who may be having a heart attack to take asprin, that they are not allowed to supply or administer it as part of their first aid duties and that asprin must not be kept in the first aid box.

However, his is adamant that we, the company, must supply it and he has been advised we should keep it in the defib unit box.

Having read the tablets and medication section on the HSE website, asprin is identified as an exception, but does this mean that organisations have to supply it on site and that first aiders are allowed to administer it?

Please provide in black and white the act, statute or regulation where it is stated that "as employer I must..."

The HSE guidance is suitably wooly but pretty clear that tablets should not be available for any one to access via the First Aid Box (or de-fib or chest of drawers)

Thanks

but in the HSE guidance is states that they must not be kept in the first aid box.  And other guidance states that first aiders should not administer it but only recommend the use, but its the bit in the HSE guidance that states its and exception, but an exception to what? Its not clear.

Cost is not the issue. 

Originally Posted by: johnwatt

What does your risk assessment of first aid needs state?

The administration of aspirin is recommended in cases of a suspected heart attack and there is no reason why this cannot be given by a first aider or kept within workplace first aid kits etc. Aspirin is NOT a prescription only medicine. 

What is it that you are concerned about? Aspirin costs ~0.60p for 32 tablets OTC.

John

Aspirin is the one exception to any form of medicine in first aid at work provision

Asthma inhalers, epi-pens, GTN spray should only be in the possession of those prescribed them in the work place. Cold & flu remedies, cough bottles, and other over the counter medicines similarly are for the use of the purchaser not stocking in the works first aid cabinet.

Originally Posted by: Roundtuit

Aspirin is the one exception to any form of medicine in first aid at work provision

Asthma inhalers, epi-pens, GTN spray should only be in the possession of those prescribed them in the work place. Cold & flu remedies, cough bottles, and other over the counter medicines similarly are for the use of the purchaser not stocking in the works first aid cabinet.

Kinda, there are exceptions, spare Adrenaline auto-injectors for instance, can be kept by schools. 

Also bear in mind that there are a range of medicines that anybody can legally use in an emergency. Doesn't mean to say they can be kept in first aid kits, but first aiders can and should help the casualty administer where available and trained. Adrenaline auto-injectors, asthma inhalers, etc are all good examples. 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1916/schedule/19/made

Edited by user 18 June 2019 15:04:36(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

While you may not be legally obliged to provide Aspirin, having some at hand might help reduce the impact of a heart attack so is the sensible option, technically it’s just at hand, not being administrated or dispensed.

Also worth considering if somebody had an attack and you didn’t have Aspirin to hand, and in the aftermath somebody asks why didn’t you have such a simple, cheap and effective measure in place,How are you going to respond?.

Originally Posted by: jmaclaughlin

somebody asks why didn’t you have such a simple, cheap and effective measure in place

We are talking about the legal duties under First Aid at Work.

To answer your question the coroners court had no interest in whether aspirin was available it was all about why it took over an hour for the paramedics to attend a suspected heart attack despite multiple 999 calls.

NO amount of aspirin availability can balance that situation

We're only talking a couple of aspirin here - you don't need a whole box ... how many people are you anticipating will be having heart attacks at the same time?

Just stick a couple in the first aid supplies labelled up "for use in the event of heart attack only" and keep the rest under lock and key elsewhere.

No one is going to be able to kill themselves with two aspirin.

Sure two aspirin can't kill someone? 

https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/allergy-library/aspirin-allergy

With 100,000 people suffering from heart attacks in the UK you would think it was a no brainer but then when you discover 6 - 20% of the population have Aspirin hypersensitivity (and may not be aware of it) with 20%+ of asthmatics being especially hypersensitive, its a bit of a conundrum.

Really, I want to know what the law says so have contacted the HSE to clarify the point, I dont have a problem having aspirin on site but would rather a rounded level of information to make the right decisions and not put any of our first aiders in a difficult position.

Then what if we ran out of Aspirin on the day someone had a heart attack, would we be chastised for not having it on site? Or it had run out of date?

The guidance also says do not give Aspirin to someone with undiagnosed chest pains - well whats the assumption with chest pains from a first aider point of view?

Originally Posted by: Roundtuit

Sure two aspirin can't kill someone? 

https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/allergy-library/aspirin-allergy

Edited by user 19 June 2019 08:23:32(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

>The guidance also says do not give Aspirin to someone with undiagnosed chest pains - well whats the assumption with chest pains from a first aider point of view?

The point is the AI/Script in the defibulator will probaly instruct you to give the person 300mg of chewable Aspirin in the event of a heart attack as per currrent 1st Aid guidance.

It's not a legal requirement to do so, just very sensible IMO.

Only if it is the right type of defibrilator AND there is one present in the workplace - again another useful to have but not a specific legal requirement

I do love it when we non-med guys talk about meds :)...adminstration of asprin has pros and cons...not withstanding allergy..

Pro

• It has an anti-platelet action which reduces clot formation
• Analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammtory

Con

• Gastric bleeding - how do you know as a first aider?
• It can cause some asthmatic to wheeze 

Your PT is able to give consent, so good assesment and history is the key...if in doubt don't.

The benefits in general of 300mg asprin will outweigh the risks....that said you first aiders must be aware of the contra-indications...we are really talking about a suspected MI...which you should give asprin in any case...just out of interest...who was the training organisation that said it was a MUST have?

Whilst the comment is likely to have been triggered by a training organisation the OP specifically mentioned the source as one of their first aiders stating it was a MUST

No one in this thread has disagreed aspirin has a beneficial role to play (even with possible allergic side effects).

At the same time no one has identified where it categorically states aspirin MUST (as opposed to nice to) be made available by the employer

Edited by user 20 June 2019 07:47:01(UTC)  | Reason: FFS

During my 1st aid refresher (done 6 months ago) I was told that it was "ok" to keep aspirin in close proximity to the AED (in the box for example). I wasn't told you have to, or you should do. Just it was ok to do this.

This was by St. Johns