In a workplace Emergency Response Team (ERT), the First Aid Team Leader is crucial in ensuring effective medical response when the first aid team is mobilized during emergencies. Their roles and responsibilities extend beyond during an emergency, covering pre- and post-incident.
1. Pre-Incident Responsibilities Of The First Aid Team Leader
A first aid team leader does not act only when an incident occurs. They are responsible for extensive preparation work in the ERT to ensure that the team can be efficiently mobilized and that victims are stabilized until paramedics arrive.
Medical Emergency Response Planning
A medical emergency response plan (ERP) is part of a bigger workplace ERP focusing on Basic Life Support (BLS) and first aid to those sick or injured during an incident. First aid team leaders should work with safety officers in charge of the emergency response planning to identify specific medical risks in the workplace, craft the first aid team activation plan, and plan the resources needed for equipment and manpower.
Training Arrangement Proposal For First Aiders
Besides fulfilling the first aid training requirements stated in the guidelines published by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), first aid team leaders must ensure that the first aiders are trained based on their job description requirements. They should evaluate whether basic first aid training modules are sufficient or advanced training is needed and propose suitable training based on the established ERP.
First Aid Equipment Maintenance
The readiness of first aid equipment is as important as the preparedness of first aiders in the face of a medical emergency. First aid team leaders are responsible for making sure the checklist of first aid equipment is kept and that regular checks are conducted to make sure that the supplies in first aid kits are stocked up and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are in good working condition, even if they are not used for an extended period.
Workplace Medical Emergency Drills
The best way to evaluate the emergency response preparedness of the first aid team and general staff is to conduct regular workplace medical emergency drills. First aid team leaders should work together with the workplace safety committee on planning realistic scenarios for the medical emergency drills to make sure that the general staff is informed of the medical ERP for efficient incident escalation and that the first aid team is equipped to perform their duty well.
2. Responsibilities Of The First Aid Team Leader During An Incident
During a medical incident, everyone in the workplace looks to the first aid team leaders for direction on what to do next. First aid team leaders play an important role in managing the situation, especially when the incident involves multiple casualties with greater severity.
Setting Response Goals
After assessing the situation to gauge the nature and severity of the incident, first aid team leaders need to set the response goals so that appropriate response tactics can be formulated. Even though the medical ERP is pre-planned, ad hoc adjustments might be needed if the situation calls for it.
Coordinating First Aiders And Prioritizing Care
With first aiders focusing on performing first aid on the scene, first aid team leaders are in charge of coordinating the first aiders to make sure the most critical cases get prioritized. They should assign tasks to first aiders, such as retrieving supplies, setting up a triage facility, and moving the victims, based on the needs. They need to make sure the first aid team is activated to efficiently achieve the response goals.
Communication With ERT And Authorities
As first aid team leaders have the overview of the medical aspect of the incident, they should keep the on scene commander of the emergency response team (ERT) updated on the situation. Upon the arrival of paramedics, they should provide all necessary information of the victims and first aid procedures done so far so that the paramedics can take over the cases smoothly.
3. Post-Incident Responsibilities Of The First Aid Team Leader
The work of a first aid team leader does not end even when an incident is under control. They need to make sure the medical part of the incident is properly wrapped up so that improvement can be made should an incident happen again.
First Aid Team Debriefing And Feedback
A post-incident review should be conducted with first aiders involved right after the incident to get the firsthand record of how well the first aid team activation went. The feedback collected helps to improve the medical emergency response plan for future use. This is a good opportunity to check the wellbeing of the responders to watch out for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Reporting And Documentation
DOSH requires safety officers to submit incident reports after the incident. First aid team leaders will compile the victim record with details such as injuries and treatment given before paramedics took over. Besides that, the effectiveness of first aid team activation is documented as well so that subsequent actions can be taken to make sure that the workplace is better prepared should an incident happen again.
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First aid team leaders play a very different role compared to first aiders. Their training should cover the incident command system (ICS), leadership development, and emergency response planning to lead the first aid team. Hence, it is not unwise to appoint the first aid team leader among first aiders who received the same basic or advanced first aid training with the expectation that this person can excel as a team leader.
