When you’re planning an outdoor event, of the many things you’ll need to organise, one of them should definitely be the provision of first aid. First aid is a first point of medical help for a person who becomes unwell or is injured at an event. It is the first stage of treatment before deciding whether further treatment is required.
Who can give first aid?
Anybody can provide first aid, whether they are trained or not. However, it is highly recommended that those who receive first aid should be seen by someone who is specifically trained as a first responder. A trained first responder will be able to maintain the condition of a patient until further medical assistance is sought if needs be.
Do you need first aid provision?
Events, however well organised can be unpredictable as with anything in life. Whether large or small, any event should be able to call on adequate first aid help to deal with any illness or injury that occurs during the event. The number of first aiders you require will depend on the size of the event and your expected visitor numbers.
What should I consider when planning the event?
Assessing possible risk should form an important part of any event organisation. This might include the number of guests, event staff and the nature of the environment or weather conditions. You should consider the distance to the nearest hospital offering emergency treatment and whether you will be having any other emergency services attend your event.
Who should I contact?
Find a reputable event medical care provider, one who gets involved early, helps plan your event with you and can provide professional, expert advice. For Event Medical Cover like this, visit https://www.outdoormedicalsolutions.co.uk/event-medical-cover/
Tell your contact as much as possible about the event so they can determine the amount, location and requirements of treatment stations. This will also help them to understand what staff and equipment will be required on the day. During your event, first aiders should be easy to locate and preferably wearing an easily identifiable uniform.
Show them the structure and map of the event so that they can see how they fit into the event, understand their role in it and know who to contact within the event organisation team.
You’ll want to be able to think ahead and not have to think on your feet during the event, so work together on developing a plan to deal with different scenarios. Might you have to deal with drunken behaviour, violence, those who don’t speak English or lost children? Ask for their expertise to help guide you in your plan to tackle any difficult situations.
Make sure you provide adequate parking space for emergency vehicles and provide clear signage across the event, directing guests to the first aid areas. Make sure these signs are clear, well-lit both day and night and plentiful.
