First Aid Law - Does it cross borders?

carl cowin

UK Government Employee

First aid Consultant, Training Provider

First Aid is for all (or is it?)

It is human nature to want to help those in need and distress after all this is what we mean by humane. So it is interesting to consider the debates about first aid by non healthcare persons. Although training puts focus on stop look and think before acting, it does not say stop think about your legal status and seek advice before acting.

The UK has quite robust health and safety legislation governing first aid in the work place which results from a duty of care by the employer. But good first aid trainers will promote the development of skills to be used in everyday life at, home, on the street and even on holiday. Many people learn first aid to use these skills in a community setting with no focus on the workplace.

You might ask “why is this important?” This is a fair question. After all no one else has raised this issue before. But we live at a different pace today which is much faster that anytime in the past and we travel more than even our parents would have considered, because for both work and play the world is more accessible. Have you considered what would happen if you were a trained and experienced first aider travelling in a different country and you came across a casualty in need, would you respond instinctively, after all you are humane?

Sure the UK has a good history of supporting people who provide first aid to passers by even with the lack of any specific legislation. The 2005 Mental Capacity Act is the nearest thing we have. Some US states and some other countries doe have “Good Samaritan Acts” to protect first aid providers and Canada has even protected the use of Automatic Defibrillators in law.

Unfortunately this is not the case all over the world. The United Arab Emirates has Dubai as a busy business and holiday destination for UK citizens but has no law protecting providers of first aid and all public incidents are investigated by the police. At present there is a push by medical staff in the UAE to produce legislation to protect first aid providers.

For sun seeking holidaymakers to Turkey, there is a stark word of caution. In January 2014 the government passed a law forbidding doctors from providing medical first aid without a permit to do so. Whilst this appears to be a political tactic as a result of recent demonstrations in the country, it remains to be seen if this will affect non healthcare providers.

It would be wise therefore to remind first aiders of the mnemonic DR ABC

D= Danger check for any dangers that may affect you or your casualty – surprisingly this could be the local law.

carl cowin

UK Government Employee

First aid Consultant, Training Provider

I am currently working as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and prescriber in a remote healthcare practice. My role includes providing general and emergency healthcare provision for people of all ages.