Back to Basics: To the rescue

What with all the current pressures on licensees, from falling sales to increased legislation, it would be no surprise if some of the more basic rules and regulations that they have to abide by fell by the wayside.

For example how many licensees know there is a legal requirement for employees to be trained in first aid?

CPL Training, which delivers qualifications to the leisure hospitality sector, believes few licensees are aware of this and as a result has launched an awareness email campaign this week to over 80,000 licensed premises, highlighting this very issue.The law

The minimum legal requirement is to appoint competent personnel who will take charge of first aid arrangements in the workplace. The only way these personnel can prepare for this role is by taking a one-day training course. The course includes how to maintain first aid equipment and facilities, and when to call the emergency services.

For those businesses with five or more staff, the legal requirements are more stringent and a qualified first aider must be appointed. The training required for a first aider involves sitting a four-day course.

Gary McNulty from CPL Training explains: "We believe that many pub operators don't realise that they have a legal requirement to ensure that there is a qualified first aider present in their business.

"It is the responsibility of the relevant local authority to ensure that health and safety is properly managed and they have the power to enforce hefty fines of up to £5,000."

He also believes that having trained first aiders on the premises makes sound business sense regardless of any government legislation - entertainment and leisure businesses attract large numbers of people and staff need to be prepared for first aid emergencies.

Gary continues: "A blocked airway can kill someone in three to four minutes, but it can take more than eight minutes for an ambulance to arrive. Knowledge of a simple procedure could save their life while they are waiting for emergency medical help."

One-day first aid course

The minimum legal requirement is to appoint competent personnel who will take charge of first aid arrangements in the workplace.

These personnel need to prepare for this role by taking a one-day training course.

The instructor goes through the

following eight procedures:

1. Incident Management - what to do at the scene of any accident or incident.

2. Adult Basic Life Support (CPR) - how to approach a casualty then administer cardio pulmonary resuscitation according to the European resuscitation guidelines.

3. Secondary Survey - a full body check looking for any signs of bleeding or fractures.

4. Recovery Position - the positioning of a casualty in a manner that the airway is not compromised in the event they are to be left alone.

5. Circulation wounds and bleeding - the recognition of specific wounds and injuries, basic anatomy and physiology of the circulatory system, treatment of minor or severe bleeding using dressings and bandages and direct and indirect pressure.

6. Shock - the recognition and treatment of the different forms of shock.

7. Burns and scalds - the recognition and treatment of all three severities of burn, the percentages of burns and common contra indications

8. Choking - the recognition and treatment of an adult choking casualty and how to tell the difference between choking and anaphylaxis (allergic reaction).

Gary explains: "This training tends to be very hands-on and everyone has a go at the techniques we discuss. In this type of situation, putting the theory into practice can be the real challenge, especially in an emergency situation. When I run my courses, I always teach some paediatric resuscitation at the end of the day."