{"id":19975,"date":"2023-10-12T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/?p=19975"},"modified":"2026-01-28T11:22:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T11:22:57","slug":"responsibilities-of-a-first-aider","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/responsibilities-of-a-first-aider\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the Responsibilities of a First Aider?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

First Aid is the immediate help that an injured or ill person receives until professional medical help is available, should they need it. Being able to perform first aid is a relatively simple skill that can have an incredibly positive impact – from providing a casualty with much-needed reassurance to saving their life. It encompasses a wide range of help, too, from simply applying a plaster to a cut to performing life-saving CPR. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All companies and places of work must have a qualified first aider, although the number of first aiders required will depend on the number of employees. If you are considering training to become a first aider, this article will offer some information about the role, highlight some of the responsibilities of a first aider and explain the desirable qualities of a good first aider. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Responsibilities of a First Aider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The role of a first aider is to provide initial medical assistance to someone who is sick or injured. Depending on the circumstances, they may be able to provide sufficient care to the casualty themselves, otherwise they would continue to provide aid until the casualty is well enough to seek further treatment themselves or until the emergency services arrive. They also ensure that they and anyone else involved in the situation is kept safe.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A first aider is someone who has received practical training in first aid so that they become qualified to provide emergency first aid to someone who has become injured or ill at work. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Employers will determine how many first aiders their workplace needs<\/a> by doing a first aid needs assessment. If a low-hazard workplace has fewer than 25 employees, the HSE recommends that having one first aider may be enough, or that you may not need one at all. However, it is good practice to have at least one trained<\/a> first-aider in any workplace as you never know when a life-threatening injury or illness could occur or what could cause it. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019d like to learn more about first aid needs assessments, check out our article, How to Conduct a First Aid Needs Assessment<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"practicing<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Being a first aider, therefore, carries a range of different and incredibly important responsibilities. If you are a trained first aider and you think someone needs your help, you have a number of responsibilities to adhere to. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main responsibilities of a first aider include being able to:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Assess a situation quickly and calmly<\/b> to get an understanding of what happened. This involves determining whether anyone is in danger, the cause of the situation, and how many people are affected.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Protect yourself and others from any danger. <\/b>You should look for any danger in the casualty\u2019s environment and always protect yourself first, only moving the casualty if leaving them would cause more harm. If you are unable to remove a danger yourself, call 999 for emergency help before approaching the casualty.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Reassure the casualty and keep them informed. <\/b>If the casualty is responsive, you should introduce yourself to them, explain what\u2019s happening and why, and explain what you\u2019re going to do before you do it.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Prevent infection. <\/b>You should try to wash your hands or use hand sanitiser or disposable gloves before administering first aid. The personal protective equipment (PPE) you use will depend on the nature of the incident and what is available in your workplace\u2019s first aid kit. Check out our article on what should be included in a first aid kit, here<\/a>. However, if a casualty has a life-threatening condition and you do not have protective equipment to hand, administering first aid should take priority over looking for it. <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Assess the casualty. <\/b>You should perform the primary and secondary survey<\/a> to determine what may be wrong with the casualty and the most appropriate first aid response, including identifying any life-threatening conditions that must be treated first.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Administer first aid treatment,<\/b> such as CPR or applying pressure to bleeding wounds. If a casualty has a life-threatening injury or condition, this should be priorities before treating less serious ailments. <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Arrange further assistance, if necessary<\/b>. Call 999 for an ambulance if it\u2019s serious, or take\/send them to a hospital if it\u2019s serious but unlikely to get any worse. For less serious conditions, suggest calling 111 for further advice or that they see a doctor if they are concerned or if the condition worsens. You should always stay with them until they have received the necessary care or medical professionals take over.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    Looking to Learn More?<\/h3><\/div><\/div>

    Our\u00a0Workplace First Aid course<\/a>\u00a0will teach you how to identify different illnesses and injuries using the primary and secondary survey and provide the appropriate first aid response, including life-saving care, giving you the confidence to act quickly in emergency situations.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    Qualities of a Good First Aider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There are a whole range of skills that are beneficial for a first aider to have that will allow them to deal with medical situations quickly and in the best way possible. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some qualities that make a good first aider include: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n