Any First Aiders here - would you help somebody in trouble?

SexyGreyFox

SexyGreyFox

SexyGreyFox

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This seems like a stupid question because why be a First Aider in the first place if you're not willing to put it to use?

Me and a work colleague are the First Aiders in our department and we went and did a 3 day First Aid course to get our certificates up to date. Anyway, two weeks ago somebody was choking but came out of it on their own and somebody said that they would be alright because me and the other First Aider were on hand. The other First Aider then announced that they wouldn't do a thing except for ringing 999 or 2222 where we are. I was gobsmacked at this and verified that the First Aider wouldn't step in at any time if another colleague got into problems just in case they got sued (apparently no First Aider has ever been sued). I then asked why they had wasted company money to be trained in something they won't carry out and they just shrugged their shoulders. This has been on my mind for two weeks.

So back to my original question:
Are you a First Aider who wouldn't help anybody?
 
Dimple said:
This seems like a stupid question because why be a First Aider in the first place if you're not willing to put it to use?

Me and a work colleague are the First Aiders in our department and we went and did a 3 day First Aid course to get our certificates up to date. Anyway, two weeks ago somebody was choking but came out of it on their own and somebody said that they would be alright because me and the other First Aider were on hand. The other First Aider then announced that they wouldn't do a thing except for ringing 999 or 2222 where we are. I was gobsmacked at this and verified that the First Aider wouldn't step in at any time if another colleague got into problems just in case they got sued (apparently no First Aider has ever been sued). I then asked why they had wasted company money to be trained in something they won't carry out and they just shrugged their shoulders. This has been on my mind for two weeks.

So back to my original question:
Are you a First Aider who wouldn't help anybody?
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It's a very sad fact of the times we're now living in I'm afraid. My OH has medical qualifications and she's always said the same - there's no way she'd help anyone out of the blue other than to comfort them or dial for emergency services.
 
I heard something a while back that somebody is immune from prosecution if they attempt to administer first aid. I could be completely wrong but that's what I've always thought...
 
wndzr said:
I heard something a while back that somebody is immune from prosecution if they attempt to administer first aid. I could be completely wrong but that's what I've always thought...
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Not immune but any judge who would rule against somebody administering First Aid would be laughed out of their job.

I'm a trained First Aider and like to think I'd help given the opportunity but in reality I'd probably **** myself and forget all training if it was some serious injury such as an amputation :D
 
Sonea Fifer said:
It's a very sad fact of the times we're now living in I'm afraid. My OH has medical qualifications and she's always said the same - there's no way she'd help anyone out of the blue other than to comfort them or dial for emergency services.
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I do hope she isn't a trained doctor with those qualifications, as she has a duty to interfere where her safety is not risked.
It is part of the oath.
It is part of your liability cover.

If you do not act or drive past an accident or do not at least try you can face the GMC.
 
shauncr91 said:
Not immune but any judge who would rule against somebody administering First Aid would be laughed out of their job.

I'm a trained First Aider and like to think I'd help given the opportunity but in reality I'd probably **** myself and forget all training if it was some serious injury such as an amputation :D
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Ah, thanks for clarifying.
 
I've been trained up to a certain standard in the Army, above the basic first aid that we're all taught in the forces. I'd like to think I'd help someone if I saw them, yes. But a similar point was brought up when I was on the course, about fear of getting sued.
 
That's messed up. I would help someone if I knew how to help them with whatever was killing them. I hope they would do the same and not worry about getting sued if I was the one choking!
 
I have basic first aid training through my offshore survival and wouldn't hesitate to use it if I could be of any use. Pretty shocked that someone has volunteered to do first aid training at work and then stated they wouldn't intervene when required, do they even get paid extra for that? I know some places pay a bit extra to fire wardens and first aiders.
 
I've done several first aid courses over my lifetime and am currently an active volunteer with St Andrews First Aid. I was under the impression that if you act with good intention and you do not step out of the remit of your training then you cannot be prosecuted. For example, a first adder may (will probably) break someone's ribs whilst doing CPR. If that person survives an actual arrest in part due to the actions of that first aider, they cannot sue the first aider for the breaking of their ribs since the first aider was right to protect life over limb/prevention of injury and acted within the remit of their training and in the best interests of the patient.

However, if the first aider administered drugs during the resuscitation attempt which caused the hearts rhythm to fall from a shockable to unshockable rythmn which in part made the attempt to fail then the patients family may sue the first aider, as they had no right to administer the medication and were acting outwith their training and remit as a first aider.
 
I think the real question should be, would one of the family bring in the correct toiletries once they found out they were in the hospital?
 
I have never heard of anyone being an appointed first aider then turning round saying they would not give life saving first aid in case they got sued. I would absolutely help someone if they were in need. I would patch folk up no bother but I would be very worried and scared if someone had stopped breathing.
 
Absolutely I'd help, but I wouldn't put myself at risk.

Good example, at work I saved a mans life by giving him CPR, but I didn't do breaths as I didn't have a shield on me and I wouldn't unless it was a friend or relative. It was one of the most unnerving and surreal moments of my life and shortly after once the adrenaline wore off was one of the scariest too. Didn't think about it while doing it, but I definitely cracked a rib or two. Never even crossed my mind that I could get sued etc.

Now of course they've changed it and you don't have to give breaths anyway, but still you get what I mean!

Why do it if you wouldn't help?!?!?
 
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I'd help, but I'd have no idea what I'd be doing....

Might see if I can learn, would be good to get trained up (you never know!) - but knowing my luck it would be me who needed it!.
 
Hikari Kisugi said:
I do hope she isn't a trained doctor with those qualifications, as she has a duty to interfere where her safety is not risked.
It is part of the oath.
It is part of your liability cover.

If you do not act or drive past an accident or do not at least try you can face the GMC.
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Surely comforting, calling an ambulance and putting them in the recovery position would class as "trying"?

Even if you were a qualified doctor, you wouldn't have to whip out the instruments and perform open heart surgery on the side of the motorway to be seen to have "helped". That's my opinion :confused:
 
Trifid said:
Wouldn't it be the hospital that got sued? I had the understanding all NHS employees are insured against medical negligence?
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I'm talking about any First Aider at any type of workplace.

In Medical Negligence cases the Trust Solicitors fight it out with the Claimants Solicitors and the NHSLA step in if they think it's worthwhile making a settlement or let it go to court.
I've only ever known one case where a Clinician lost their job and no Staff member has ever had to pay out of their own pocket.
 
EVH said:
Surely comforting, calling an ambulance and putting them in the recovery position would class as "trying"?

Even if you were a qualified doctor, you wouldn't have to whip out the instruments and perform open heart surgery on the side of the motorway to be seen to have "helped". That's my opinion :confused:
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Indeed. To do more will often be both unnecessary and inappropriate, thus giving rise to the possibility of being sued should anything 'extra' you do go wrong. Besides even if it would be appropriate to do more, most professionals will not have the equipment to do more at the roadside and will be able to do nothing more than call for help, and comfort those injured.
 
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