Tablets and medication

The provision of first aid does not include giving tablets or medicines to treat illness.

In accordance with currently accepted first aid practice, it is recommended that tablets and medicines should not be kept within the first aid box. They should be stored in a lockable cabinet, drawer or container and in some cases in a locked container within a refrigerator if storage instructions state this.

Some staff carry their own medication that has been prescribed by their doctor (eg an inhaler for asthma). If an individual needs to take their own prescribed medication, the first aider's role is generally limited to helping them to do so and contacting the emergency services as appropriate. However, this does not apply to the administration of prescription-only medication specified in Schedule 19 of the Medicines Regulations 2012, where this is for the purpose of saving life in an emergency. e.g. Adrenaline 1:1000 up to 1 mg for intramuscular use in anaphylaxis.

Where a first aid needs assessment identifies that a lifesaving prescribed medication may be required to be administered in an emergency for a specific staff member, the employer should consider providing the workplace first aiders with additional training in the use of any such treatment.