Keep tabs on your first aid

St John Ambulance is reminding employers to ensure that they have enough staff trained in first aid to cover for holidays and sickness.

Sue Skoyles, east regional training manager for St John Ambulance, said: “More staff are away in summer than any other time of the year but unfortunately accidents don’t take holidays.

“Employers can unwittingly overlook the fact that their first aiders could be absent when a serious accident happens.

“This can especially be the case in small businesses with very few employees, where there may be only one first aider.

“As an organisation we would advise every business to carry out a risk assessment based on their needs, including things such as first aider absence, the injuries that are most likely in the workplace and cover for shift work.”

She added that 150,000 people die each year where first aid could have given them a chance to live.

If someone dies due to a lack of proper health and safety procedures being in place the company could be prosecuted under the Corporate Manslaughter Act.

Businesses can check if they are meeting their statuary obligations at www.sja.org.uk/survey