First Aid Medication

Overview

Medication in first aid must be handled carefully. In most workplaces, first aid kits are for first aid supplies, not Schedule medicines.

First aiders should follow their training, workplace procedures, product instructions, and local law.

What First Aiders May Do

• Help a casualty take their own prescribed medication, such as an inhaler, if they are able to consent or it is covered by protocol.
• Assist with an adrenaline autoinjector or asthma reliever when trained to do so.
• Follow approved workplace procedures for medicines kept on site.
• Consider aspirin for suspected cardiac chest pain only if protocol allows and there is no known reason to avoid it.

What To Avoid

• Do not give your own prescription medicine to a casualty.
• Do not offer medication outside training or workplace procedure.
• Do not pressure a casualty to take medication.
• Do not leave medication use undocumented.

Documentation

Record the casualty's name, the medication, dose if known, time given, who assisted, and the reason it was used. Hand this information to ambulance or medical staff.