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Policy on First Aid and most specifically Head Injury management
Rank: New forum user 
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Good morning, My own feelings is that head injuries are a difficult one to manage properly. A simple graze to the forehead >> Send to Hospital Y/N Hitting your head on a low beam, no visible injury .. Send to hospital Y/N And if we do send people to hospital how would you do that? Call an ambulance? Manager to drive them? First Aider to drive them? What if the IP has a fit in the vehicle? Is the vehicle insured? Can get very messy and needs some serious consideration. It is also worth remembering that First Aiders are not Doctors or indeed medically trained in any way so relying on a first aiders to decide is fraught with danger.
Do any of you out there have a policy that covers this ?
Edited by user 14 October 2021 08:46:55(UTC)
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Rank: Super forum user
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We follow the advice given out in our first aid training. Basically it is down to their level of responsiveness. If the seem ok we advise the casualty to seek medical help if the head injury appears to get worse or if any of the following apply: - they are over the age of 65
- they had previous brain surgery
- they are taking anti-clotting medication
If it is serious we would take them to A&E by company vehicle if safe to do so, if not we would call and ambulance
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 1 user thanked CptBeaky for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I don’t think its that complicated, at least not anywhere where I have worked. There is no company policy on who goes to hospital for what injuries; that is down to the training that the first aiders should have received. The approved course mentions head injures and recognises that concussion can be an issue. If the first aider suspects that the injured person has suffered a serious head injury, they will normally call for an ambulance. In that way they will get a proper medical assessment. The injury might not be that serious looking, but the first aider might suggest that the person attend A&E just to be certain. Occasionally we have arranged for people to be driven to hospital usually using a pool car but insurance has never been an issue. Edited by user 14 October 2021 09:14:41(UTC)
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Originally Posted by: CptBeaky  they are over the age of 65
Will my skull suddenly weaken on the date of my 65th birthday? What if I am a sprightly 64 & 3/4?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Originally Posted by: CptBeaky they are over the age of 65
Will my skull suddenly weaken on the date of my 65th birthday? What if I am a sprightly 64 & 3/4?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Originally Posted by: Roundtuit Will my skull suddenly weaken on the date of my 65th birthday? What if I am a sprightly 64 & 3/4?
A fair point, I just quoted the training. I assume that one would not ask the age of an injured person, rather make assumptions based on their perceived fragility.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Ambulance service 999 operators do ask for the age of the patient in some circumstances.
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Rank: Super forum user
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all covered by the NICE guidelines and JRCALC for ambulance reponse..bit beyond basic first aid...and the age is required in clinical risk...follow the first aid guidance - AVPU, if alert advise hospital if: - they are over the age of 65
- they had previous brain surgery
- they are taking anti-clotting medication
- they have been taking drugs or drinking alcohol
- there is no one responsible to look after them.
Patient choice at the end of the day even if it is obvious...
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