First aid

If you or someone else needs first aid for a minor injury on campus, call a local first aider or call Security by dialling 020 7955 6555 from your mobile. 

For more serious injuries, call the emergency services directly by dialling 999 or 112 to summon an ambulance.  You must then let Security know so that they can direct the ambulance crew to the correct location, and send a First Aider to assist until the ambulance crew arrives. 

If you are in a Hall of Residence and need First Aid, contact the staff at your Hall’s Reception.

Every department/division is encouraged to have at least one Emergency First Aider per every 50 staff. Those which operate in different buildings or across more than one floor may need more First Aiders. 

When selecting people to become Emergency First Aiders, choose staff who will be on campus at least 3 days a week and who would be able to leave their work to attend to a first aid incident. 

Staff in some roles may be required to be trained in First Aid as part of their role. These may be identified in the School’s Assessment of First Aid Need or in local risk assessments or protocols. You should also nominate a member of staff to check the first aid kit on a regular basis.

The Health and Safety Team arranges Emergency First Aid training. This is open to all staff and can be booked using the Training and Development System. Other first aid training is arranged locally by the relevant Division to meet their specific needs.

Each department/division will ensure that they have a sufficiently stocked first-aid box and a nominated person should be tasked with ensuring that the contents of the first-aid boxes are replenished as and when necessary. 

A notice should be posted in a prominent position giving details of the name and location of first-aiders and/or appointed persons, along with the location of the first-aid box. It's good practice to remind staff about the local first aid arrangements at the start of every academic year. 

What should a first-aid box contain?

It depends on how many people the first-aid box serves but as a minimum the first-aid box must contain: 

• A leaflet (PDF) giving general guidance on first aid 
• 20 individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings (plasters) in assorted sizes
• 2 sterile eye pads
• 4 individually wrapped triangular bandages (preferably sterile)
• 6 safety pins
• 6 medium-sized (approximately 12cm x 12cm) individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings
• 2 large (approximately 18cm x 18cm) sterile individually wrapped unmedicated wound dressings
• 1 pair of disposable gloves
• 1 resuscitation face shield

(First-aid boxes can also contain additional items such as scissors, adhesive tape, disposable aprons and individually wrapped moist wipes.) 

First-aid boxes used in catering kitchens and areas preparing food must contain blue plasters. First-aid kits for catering kitchens may also contain burn dressings and cool packs.

If mains tap-water is not readily available for eye irrigation, sealed disposable containers of sterile water or sterile normal saline can be kept in the first-aid box, but these should not be used once the seal is broken or beyond their expiry date.

The first-aid box should not contain any medication, tablets, creams or ointment. 

There are eight automated external defibrillators (AED) on campus. AEDs are used to deliver an electric shock to restore the heart to normal rhythm in case of ventricular fibrillation (VF). 

The School's defibrillator units are located in the following areas: 

• Centre Building - Security reception
• CKK (previously NAB) – store behind Security reception (LIF side)
• Library – behind main reception counter ground floor (in security cabinet)
• Marshall Building - Security reception
• Old Building – Security store next to reception counter
• Pankhurst House (previously called Tower 1) – Security reception – (in cupboard behind reception desk)
• SAL (previously 32 Lincoln’s Inn Fields) – Security reception 
• Saw Swee Hock Building – Student Union Gym 

You do not need to be a trained first-aider or a medical professional to use the AED. The device uses voice prompts and visual indicators to guide the you through the resuscitation sequence that may include both defibrillation and CPR.