First Aid Guidance

Guidance and procedures relating to first arrangements across SBS

List of First Aiders

The School's First Aiders and their contact details can be accessed here:

First Aid

Medical Emergency

If you are not qualified in first aid yourself, send for the nearest available First Aider, who will take charge of the situation. A list of First Aiders can be found on the green notices located around each building.

If no qualified First Aiders are available, ensure that an ambulance is called. See procedure below.

If you suspect that a casualty has been poisoned, alert Accident and Emergency (A&E), dial (9) (0131) 536 1000, so that A&E staff can get information from the Poisons Bureau.

In the event of a serious injury or ill health requiring the attendance of the Ambulance Service:

  1. Dial (9)999 and ask for the Ambulance Service.
  2. State your name, location and telephone number. The Ambulance Service operator may ask you to describe the casualty’s condition, first aid measures applied etc, and will assess the seriousness of the event – follow their instructions.
  3. Follow up with a second call to the University Security Service on 2222, if practicable. If possible, arrange for someone to be at the main entrance to the building, to direct Emergency Services to the incident.

Building-Specific First Aid Information

The location of defibrillators, first aid rooms and named first aid contacts within School buildings can be on the SBS Buildings Team website.

SBS Buildings Team Website

Incident Reporting

As soon as it is safe and practicable, report the incident to the Schol Safety Office or directly via the University’s accident reporting system.

Health and Safety Department - AIR System

The University Health and Safety Department runs regular First Aid at Work courses at Central Campus. These are typically three day courses, and the certificate is valid for three years.

The School is required to maintain a fixed number of first aiders for each building. This number depends on the hazard-profile of the work within the building and number of occupants.

If you are interested in becoming a first aider for your building, please contact the School Health & Safety team, who take a note of your interest. When a vacancy arises, they will then reach out to discuss in more detail.


Guidance

In the event of an accident, the amount of time it will take for help to reach you should not be underestimated. Nor should the risk of further complications to the injured person (e.g. deterioration, blood loss, shock and hypothermia).

Outdoor first aid qualifications are specifically designed with fieldwork and remote scenarios in mind, and aim to give the confidence and skills in the event of an accident. More general or basic first aid qualifications (e.g. First Aid at Work) may be suitable in lower risk or more urban field locations, but should not be seen as a substitute for a dedicated outdoor first aid qualification for remote destinations.

If you are undertaking fieldwork in a remote or rural location, at least one member of your party should hold an outdoor first aid qualification. Larger parties may require more than one first aider.  If you are working with collaborators from other institutions, you may wish to check if they hold a suitable, in-date qualification that could cover the party.

Qualifications should be renewed once they expire as its important to refresh skills on a regular basis, and ensure that knowledge is up to date if changes in guidance have been made.

Training

If your research or teaching activities involve a fieldwork element, this is a vital training course for you to attend. Certificates last for three years.

Courses are run by the School of Geosciences or the School of Biological Sciences throughout the year. Courses last two days, with an indoor and outdoor component. Places cost around £120 per attendee, chargeable to local budgets.

Fieldwork First Aid Kits

It is generally the responsibility of the research groups to purchase and maintain any fieldwork first aid kits that they require for their fieldwork. Where needed, however, the School is able to arrange the loan of first aid kits to groups. Please email sbsafety@ed.ac.uk to discuss your requirements further.


Depending on the risk assessment for your event, a first aider may be necessary.

If you require First Aiders to attend an event that you are hosting you should in the first instance approach your local area First Aiders. 

Under exceptional circumstances, and given adequate notice, if you are unable to obtain First Aiders for your event the University Health and Safety Department may be able to help. 

A remuneration will be paid by the hosting School/Department to each First Aider, for each session attended.

Please email FirstAid.Training@ed.ac.uk or SBSafety@ed.ac.uk 


First Aid Equipment and Rooms

Building first aid kits, defibrillators and first aid rooms are the responsibility of the School Buildings Team. These are checked monthly and restocked as necessary.

Any issues or concerns relating to a building first aid kit should be reported to the local building manager.

Other first aid kits, such as laboratory and fieldwork first aid kits are typically the responsibility of the research groups. Checks should be made regularly to ensure that the box and/or contents are in good condition, still in date and replaced as necessary.

Replacement items for group-managed kits can be purchased on People & Money from the following suppliers

  • St Johns Ambulance
  • Arco (Punchout available)
  • Qualsafe

Eye Wash

Each laboratory should have either an eye-wash hose or bottled sterile eye wash available. These are typically located at the hand wash basin.

The Buildings team flush all eye wash hoses weekly across the School.

Eye wash bottles should replaced once opened (even if not used), if they become damaged or pass their expiry date.

First Aid Checks

All first aid kits should be checked on a monthly basis, and these checks should be recorded. An example checklist has been developed to assist with this.

For field first aid kits, kits should be checked before the fieldwork begins and on return to the School.

First Aid Kit Checklist (63.91 KB / DOCX)

The School operates a Mental Health first aid programme across the School. Resources and information on the management of mental health  can be found on the Mental Health Portal.


A list of mental health first aiders, and their contact details can be found here:

Health and Safety Enquiries

School of Biological Sciences

Contact details

Address

Mary Brück Building, Ground floor, G.1,
Colin Maclaurin Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3DW

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