First Aid

[NicM123]

Do public places (ie a cinema) have to have a trained first aider or atleast someone with basic first aid knowledge on shift at all times? Thanks

[pink-kittens]

Not for public use no but for H and S of emplyees the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to enable first aid to be given to employees if they are injured or become ill at work
Full details here
http://www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/legislation.htm

What happened then?

[NicM123]

Basically a woman next to me & my mate fainted & her husband shouted for help. He was checking her pulse & shaking her to try & come round. I ran out & told the staff to call an ambulance, however they went round telling each other & no-one called an amubulance. They then all wandered into the screen & stood & watched me & my mate try & help. Then the manager came in, oblivious to the facts id told his staff & shouted in my face to stop panicking! Anyway, the way they handled the situation really bothered me. Mainly that potentially this could have had a nastier outcome & they really shouldn't dither about helping people who need urgent medical assistance. We complained to the manager and he told us they had no-one first aid trained in the whole of the staff. I'm writing to complain to the CEO of the company & wanted to have my legal facts straight. Thanks for your answer!

[pink-kittens]

As far as I can read you have no legal facts to get straight. The cinema has no legal right to provide you with a first aider, or even someone to call an ambulance. Any other customer could have called 999 for you as well. It's not their responsibility although if the manager came in as you say he did then maybe he needs pulling up n his customer service?

But think about it from his POV too. There you were, leaning over your friend probably panicking - why would he not shout at you to stop panicking? Panicking can make a bad situation even worse.

If there was no one there who knew basic first aid (staff or member of the public) would you really want them working on your freind? Bad first aid can be worse than none at all; in fact it could kill and then I would think you would want compensation form that person who tried to help, wouldnt you? You cannot have it both ways I'm afraid

As a fully qualified first aider myself (updated every year) I would avoid helping apart from dailling 999 myself. Why? Because there is always someone out there ready to point the finger if anything goes wrong. I would only use my training in my work place where all staff are first aid trained and we are all there to back the other if something serious happens

I think you are wasting time and effort writing to the CEO and at best you can hope he will send you some free cinema tickets

[pink-kittens]

Sorry, for 'your friend' read 'lady in cinema'

[NicM123]

Right ok, thanks for your answer. We actually weren't panicking, ive dealt with lots of people whove fainted, so its not a massive shock 2 me. I asked if there were any legalities and you gave your legal answer in your first post, but thankyou for elaborating with a personal opinion. I was wondering what they had to provide for staff aswell, which would have been the real point of the letter. As i don't have much legal knowledge that was why i came on here. My secondary concerns were the customer service that was received. Free tickets mean nothing to me, as i stop going to places who treat me with bad service.

[pink-kittens]

I understand what you are saying and it must have been quite a scary situation for all those involved but it is not the responsibility of the staff to call for medical help. Why could not another member of the public call for it?

Legally, they don't have to have a first aider to attend any members of the public and I'm not sure why anyone would think they did?

Many people would dither when an apparent medical emergency is happening. They would be unsure of what to do to help for a start. Even myself, as a trained first aider (updated every year) I would not actively seek to help in a situation outside of my work place - been there and done it - and many others feel the same way

I would ask you this though, as none of the staff were first aid trained and probably have little to zero knowledge on how to do basic first aid, would you really want them giving emergency help to someone you know? I know I wouldn't because bad help can be worse than no help at all; in fact it could kill

[pink-kittens]

ooops lol, teach me to leave a post up
Thought it hadnt posted, didnt mean to repeat myself - sorry