First Aid in the Local Church (Part 3)

Providing immediate and effective first aid to people who have become injured or ill may reduce the severity of the injury or illness and promote recovery. In some cases, it may mean the difference between life and death.

First aid arrangements will vary from one place to the next. It will depend upon the nature of activities undertaken on the site, the type of hazards present on the site, the size and location of the site as well as the number of people that attend the site. All of these factors need to be taken into account when deciding what first aid requirement needs to be provided.

In todays climate of litigation there are fears that by performing first aid on a person there is risk of personal liability. During training this fear is allayed - by operating within the training and only providing treatment that is trained, no first aider can be found personally liable.

Nearly all Australian states and territories have in place good Samaritan legislation to ensure that people who step forward to provide emergency medical assistance are not held legally liable for their actions provided they act in good faith (Civil Laws (Wrongs) Act 2002 (ACT) s 5; Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) s 57

The Risk Management Process

The following is important to involve in the assessment of what approach you will take towards your first aid facilitation;

• identifying hazards that could result in an injury or illness
• assessing the type, severity and likelihood of an injury or illness
• providing the appropriate first aid equipment, facilities and training
• reviewing your first-aid arrangements on a regular basis or as circumstances change.

Giving the opportunity for consultation involves the sharing of information and the opportunity for feedback. It should be done before making decisions about health and safety matters.

Section 47 of the WHS Act 2011

A person conducting a business or undertaking must consult, so far as reasonably practicable, with workers who carry out work for a business or undertaking who are (or likely to be) directly affected by a work health and safety matter.

First Aiders Regulation 42 - Duty to provide first aid.

A person conducting business or undertaking must ensure that an adequate number of workers are trained to administer first aid at the workplace or that workers have access to an adequate number of other people who have been trained to administer first aid.

First aiders must hold a nationally recognised certification issued by a rescued training organisation (RTO) for the nationally endorsed first aid unit/s of competency.

First aid can be provided in your local church in a number of way;

• training one or more person(s) within your congregation to administer first aid.
• gather those that already have the training and certification to administer first aid.

Additional Training for First Aiders

First aiders should attend training on a regular basis to refresh their first aid knowledge and skills and to confirm their competence to provide first aid. Refresher training in CPR should be undertaken annually and first aid qualifications should be renewed every three years.

It is a recommended code of practice to undertake additional first aid training to respond to specific situations at their church i.e. where severe allergies could be a potential risk, first aiders should be trained to respond to anaphylaxis.

Number of Trained First Aiders

The number of first aiders depends on the risk level at your local church. Therefore, the risk management process is an important factor in assigning the number of trained first aiders.

The following ratios are recommended;

• low-risk activity site - one first aider for every 50 persons
• high-risk activity site - one first aider for every 25 persons

The number and type of trained first aiders can be further refined by the following five-step guide;

• Identify the maximum number of people you have on-site at any one time.
• Consider the nature of the activity being carried out at the site and determine if there is a high risk of being exposed of hazards that could require immediate first aid treatment.
• Determine if access to emergency services is difficult e.g. remoteness. If so and there are higher levels of risk, then the ratio should be adjusted to one first aider for every persons.
• In the event that a first aider is not available due to solo duties and it is not practicable to have one on duty then the following must be provided;
  • an effective means of contacting emergency services or first aiders.
  • information, instruction and training on how to respond to serious injury.
• before finalising the number of first aiders you will train and/or appoint to your congregation, consider if there are any other reasons that additional first aiders may be necessary;
  • after hour duties
  • Seasonal work i.e. significant increase or decrease during holiday and/or seasonal times like Easter or Christmas.
  • Function, fetes/community events, or evangelistic campaigns.
  • Churches that have unique hazards such as fitness groups, Adventurers / Pathfinders, or amusement rentals.
  • Enough first aiders that could fill a roto in holiday times.

First Aid Procedures

The local church should develop and implement first aid procedures to ensure that everyone has a clear understanding of first aid in the church. The procedure should cover;

• The type of first aid kits and where they are located
• The location of the first aid equipment and facilities
• Who is responsible for the first aid kits and facilities and how frequently they should be checked and maintained.
• How to establish and maintain appropriate communication systems (including equipment and procedures) to ensure rapid emergency communication with first aiders
• The communication equipment and system to be used when first aid is required, especially for remote and isolated sites. These procedures should contain information about how to locate the communication equipment, who is responsible for the equipment and how it should be maintained.
• The arrangement to allow for a team to be appropriately trained
• How to report injuries and illnesses that occur onsite
• How to make debriefing services available to those first aiders exposed to serious incidents

Record Keeping

A record of first aid treatment given should be kept by the first aider and reported to the board on a regular basis to assist reviewing first aid arrangements and assessing any potential hazards that are causing risk. First aid treatment records are subject to requirements under Health Records Legislation.

The Nature of Potential Hazards in the Church

Certain work environments have a greater risk of injury and illness due to the nature of work or activity carried out and the nature of the hazards on site. For example, a food pantry will have a greater risk of injury requiring immediate medical treatment than the person working in the church library. This is why it is important to undertake the Risk Management process to determine the types of potential hazards that cause risk and the first aid arrangements that you will have in place in the event of an injury.

Signage

The Australian Standard for safety signs for the occupational environment states that safety and emergency signs should comprise of white text in a green background.

Displaying well-recognised first aid signs will assist in an easy experience locating the equipment and/or facilities - especially in the event of an emergency.

Other First Aid Equipment and Facilities

In addition to first aid kits, it should be considered whether other first aid equipment is appropriate according to the results from the risk management process. Some examples may be;

• Automated External Defibrillators - people trained to perform first aid are introduced to the Automated External defibrillator (AED). This device delivers a carefully measured charge of electricity to the chest - being semi-automated, it assesses whether this charge is necessary and prompts the first aider in the steps necessary. These are often found in business premises and shopping centres.
• Eye-wash and Shower Equipment - emergency eye-wash equipment should be provided where there is a risk of chemical or hazardous substances causing eye injury. If your risk management process indicates that there is a risk of eye injury during working bees, then your team should consider installing this equipment. It can be fixed or remain portable depending on the site. Portable units have their own flushing liquid to aid in the removal of hazardous chemicals, foreign objects or substances - they need to be refilled or replaced after use, depending on the style of the unit.
• First Aid Rooms - a first aid room is not a mandatory facility unless it would be difficult to facilitate first aid with a degree of privacy. If a first aid room is not provided, it may be necessary to formulate a plan for partial evacuation of the site to facilitate access for emergency services, aid in the provision of first aid or just simply just to protect the privacy and dignity of the ill or injured person. A first aid room must be maintained by a trained firster except in the occasion where a first aid room is part of a health centre or hospital.

NNSW First Aid Arrangements

The North New South Wales Conference has an arrangement with ALSCO training and can help to facilitate the training of the local church first aid team. Please make contact if you seek to enquire through the main office line (02) 4951 8088