First-Aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by a lay person to a sick or injured patient until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care past the first aid intervention. It generally consists of a series of simple and, in some cases, potentially life-saving techniques that an individual can be trained to perform with minimal equipment.

The key aims of first aid can be summarised in three key points

(1) Preserve life - the overriding aim of all medical care, including first aid, is to save lives. (2) Prevent further harm - also sometimes called preventing the condition worsening, this covers both external factors, such as moving a patient away from a cause of harm, and applying first aid techniques to prevent worsening of the condition, such as applying pressure to stop a bleed becoming dangerous. (3) Promote recovery - first aid also involves trying to start the recovery process from the illness or injury, and in some cases might involve completing a treatment, such as in the case of applying a plaster to a small wound.

First Aid Boxes are located in the Reception area of the below listed buildings and are kept stocked by the H&S Section; please click on the following link and go to page 6 to view Contents of a First Aid Box. (NOTE: Each department is responsible for providing and refilling its own first aid box/boxes)

  • Library & Information Services Building
  • Visitor Car Park
  • Foundation Building
  • Physical Education & Sport Science Building
  • Main Building (Reception & Porters Office)
  • Schrodinger Building
  • Computer Science Building

The University has undertaken a programme of training Occupational First Aiders and, to date, approximately 60 staff received training.

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