Posted By Con.. I know in Ireland that the courts regonise that first aid is a service given in good faith and generally such cases are dismissed. I think if you ensure that your first aiders are trained in a 3day Occ. First aid coarse and retrained every 2 years ...you should be well covered.

Posted By Tim Davies Having discussed this very issue with training providers whilst on a course today, if the aid given is the aid taught by the training provider then there is no problem. A stated case exists known as the 'Good Samaritan Case' from a couple of years ago. This case I think I am right in saying, said that if First Aid is administered and it is only the aid that has been trained; and it is administered in good faith and a genuine and honest held belief in doing the right thing, then there is no problem. The problems exist when First Aid is administered that has not been trained, such as wacking in tubes and the like! There is no requirement for extra insurance outside that normally in place for the employer, as long as staff only adminster what they have been trained to do, and are in date for the training, by the training provider bought in by the employer.

Posted By Adrian Watson The general principles are quite simple, you do not have to provide first aid to an injured person. However, if you do you assume a legal duty to the injured party to act responsibly. Therefore if your actions cause further damage the normal rules of negligence apply. I.e. the injured party must show that that you did not exercise the degree of care expected of a reasonable person, that your actions caused or materially contributed to their injuries and that as a consequence they suffered damages of a type which were foreseeable. If they can prove these facts then they can recover damages.