Pharmacy teams are well practised in looking after other people, but do you know your pharmacy’s first aid procedures and what to do in case of an accident? Sasa Jankovic finds out

Because of the nature of your business, members of the public could present themselves at the pharmacy at any time for emergency first aid. There is also a chance that a member of staff or customer might suddenly fall ill or have an accident.

First aid

Although first aid is only the first response to an accident, in some instances it can mean the difference between life and death, so acting quickly can make all the difference. The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to make adequate first aid provision for staff, including having a well-stocked and easily accessible first aid box and an ‘appointed person’ to take care of all first aid arrangements when necessary.

This person does not have to be a trained first aider – although it is useful if they are – but they must take charge when someone is injured or falls ill, including calling an ambulance if necessary. A pharmacy with between 50 and 100 staff is required to have one appointed person and at least one trained first aider (this figure rises the more staff there are).

If it’s a customer who is taken ill and there is no first aider, your pharmacy’s standard operating procedure (SOP) will probably require referral to the pharmacist. Make sure you read the SOP and fully understand the correct procedure for your pharmacy.

Accident reporting

Whether an incident involves a member of staff or a customer, the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) require the employer to keep full records, stating what happened, to whom, and when. An accident book can be purchased from the Health and Safety Executive website, or a normal notebook may be used instead.

It is the responsibility of the pharmacy manager to ensure that all staff understand the procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency. If you are not sure what these are, just ask. Being properly informed and able to act fast might just save a life.