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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find this bizzarre? National Trust properties now dont provide basic First aid - eg plasters in case someone is allergic to them!

100 replies

Ohsuchaperfectday · 21/05/2018 13:07

I could not believe it - the person who told us when we went to the ticket office also said it was mind mindbogglingly ridiculous...but they dont allow you plasters in case you have an allergic reaction!

Nothing no savlon, nothing! DD had a little fall it wasn't serious at all but she did have a nasty graze on her hand right by the bone she wanted a plaster! I must admit for an organisation who is appealing to families I believe there should be some basic first aid available!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ohsuchaperfectday · 21/05/2018 13:54

(but I carry a cpr mask on my keyring) Shock
wow! Who knew you could get such things!

I am now searching amazon for all kinds of F aid kit.Grin each for their own!

OP posts:
nokidshere · 21/05/2018 13:54

It's about common sense though isn't it? Most visitor attractions will help under the broad 'duty of care' for visitors. First aiders are only required legally for their own workforce.

I agree that parents should carry a basic first aid kit with them. However, I wouldn't hesitate to give the parent a plaster if required because a)you can ask 'are you allergic' and b) they can sign the book to say they were asked and agreed. And first aid kits absolutely include plasters.

The contents of my Ofsted approved childminding one:

Contents:

1 x Guidance Leaflet
20 x Assorted Washproof Plasters
2 x Eyepad Dressings with Loop
4 x Triangular Bandage
6 x Medium HSE Dressing 12cm x 12cm
2 x Large HSE Dressing 18cm x 18cm
6 x Assorted Safety Pins
6 x Reliwipes
1 x Rebreath Resuscitation Device
5 x Reliswab Sterile Gauze Swabs
2 x Gloves (pair)
1 x Religauze Tubular Gauze 1m
1 x Plastic Finger Applicator
1 x Microporous Tape 1.25cm x 10m
5 x Relipad Dressing 5cm x 5cm
1 x First Aid Scissors
1 x Hanging Bracket

AlexanderHamilton · 21/05/2018 13:54

There is no legal obligation to provide first aid for members of the public but the HSE reccomends they are included in first aid provision.

Original poster
Ohsuchaperfectday · 21/05/2018 13:55

nothing anti bacterial?

I thought with the sepsis risk every kit would have something anti bacterial!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ohsuchaperfectday · 21/05/2018 13:56

However, I wouldn't hesitate to give the parent a plaster if required because a)you can ask 'are you allergic' and b) they can sign the book to say they were asked and agreed. And first aid kits absolutely include plasters

^^ This.

OP posts:
susurration · 21/05/2018 14:02

So you're saying this property you visited had no first aid kit and no first aider? Or are you saying that the person you spoke to couldn't give you the plaster?

Because if the property has no first aider and no first aid kit I would be extremely surprised. There are a 101 various jobs NT staff and volunteers do every day that are covered by risk assessments and health and safety but this one property doesn't have any first aid facilities?

Original poster
Ohsuchaperfectday · 21/05/2018 14:06

Its a small site to be fair - The ticket office man radioed his manager and said they couldn't give out plasters and had nothing else to put on wound or anti bacterial stuff...

He already told us this but phoned his manager to check. We didn't make a fuss our daughter fell and we were on our way out and asked...

Do you think I'm lying Surration!!

OP posts:
NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 21/05/2018 14:08

Not entirely surprised by OP as I know the plaster thing is widespread in schools, nurseries etc.

BUT wanted to take the opportunity to rave about how fantastic the NT first aider was when my son split his lip v badly (requiring stitches) last year. Obviously it was more than my own plasters-in-my-purse could cope with - the lovely guy cleaned it up, gave him an ice pack and gave me some gauze to take with. Plus gave us each a bottle of water and a brownie for the journey! Couldn't have asked for better.

susurration · 21/05/2018 14:10

No I don't think you're lying, I was extremely confused by your comments! It's one thing to say they don't have first aid, it's another to say they don't give out plasters or antiseptic cream.

However, now you have clarified- no first aider anywhere will give you anti septic cream as it is simply not allowed for ANY first aider ANYWHERE to administer that. And it may have been a case that they didn't have plasters. But there will have been a first aider. The two things are separate and it seemed to me as though you were saying they didn't have a first aider. Which is why I asked.

susurration · 21/05/2018 14:11

For reference, there was many a time I went into my first aid kit to find something missing as another duty first aider had used it and not replaced it.

mirime · 21/05/2018 15:19

For goodness sake, I work for a charity and we have plasters in our First Aid Kit. They came with it.

The whole plasters not being allowed thing is a myth.

lostinsunshine · 21/05/2018 15:21

It was a small site and you expect it to have something in place for you? A bit naive.
I was once in a situation where I saw a teenager with a horrible gash in their leg from a fall . The nearest likely spot for a first aid kit didn't have one. I only had an unopened bottle of water to give to help them clean the wound. Since then I've always made sure I had something in me in case it was my child who got hurt.

bsbabas · 21/05/2018 15:34

If it was a serious cut they would have used micropore tape and gauze and irrigated it to clean it no need for cream at all.

tillytrotter1 · 21/05/2018 15:50

I would expect anywhere with the public to have a basic first aid kit, even little cafes in parks usually have one!
I would expect any decent parent to carry a supply of plasters and maybe medicated wipes for a day out. You would certainly expect your child's school to have some stuff on a day out, why not you?

In these days of easy money from litigation I am surprised that anyone provides anything medical. Thank those who sue at the drop of a hat rather than blaming the organisations.

TerfsUp · 21/05/2018 15:59

I've never seen a first aid kit in a public workplace that has plasters / savlon / aspirin.

Last year, I gave my extended family 'emergency kits' for the gloves compartments of their cars: plasters, savlon, aspirin, mini-torches, fold-up foil blankets, tubes of hand cream, indigestion tablets etc. For my female cousins I added a pair of tights; for the men, a pair of socks.

Sounds naff, I know, but the kits were appreciated.

And, no, these weren't Christmas or birthday gifts; some of them drive / commute long distances and I thought it would be useful for them to have quick access to a few bits and bobs.

BluthsFrozenBananas · 21/05/2018 16:21

I used to be in charge of the first aid boxes in a place which had a lot of members of the public passing through. Plasters were fine, but anything with any kind of active ingredient wasn't. I was told giving out things like antibacterial cream or painkillers would be considered 'prescribing' and wasn't allowed. With cream there's also the issue of having an open tube, with first aid boxes once somewhat been opened it has to be used or discarded. You couldn't have an open tube of savalon just sitting in the box.

Funnily enough the US seems much less strict on this than us. When DD wasn't feeling well at Disney she was given Tylenol (US calpol) at the first aid station. I was genuinely quite shocked they were allowed to give medicine out to children, that would be an enormous no no in the UK.

Furano · 21/05/2018 16:28

I think in this case you just need to take a bit of personal responsibility and carry a couple of plasters, a few painkillers and a couple of single wrapped wipes with you. Or wait until you get home.

Ubercornsdiscoball · 21/05/2018 16:34

How many places have you been where you have needed to get a plaster? Why not carry your own?!!

Original poster
Ohsuchaperfectday · 21/05/2018 17:03

It was my dd who wanted the plaster to feel better.

We casually asked on way out.

  1. I was mildly surprised they didn't have a first-aid box with some anti bacterial stuff and plaster

  2. I was really taken aback at the reason why... This is my aibu.

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 21/05/2018 17:07

I'm allergic to elastaplast plasters... Grin

So yeah I'd be one who would complain about them. But I do think these places should have a first aid kit on site and people can decline the care if they want

ErrolTheDragon · 21/05/2018 17:12

A few assorted plasters, a few savlon or similar antiseptic wipes and a pocket pack of tissues fit into the corner of a handbag and are sufficient for most scrapes. I have a tiny bag but manage to carry those. If picknicing, wasp-eze can be a good idea too.

lizziesnips · 21/05/2018 17:14

plasters are allowed
creams not allowed
wipes are allowed
they should have been able to administer basic first aid
and they should have had someone trained to do this

BlueJava · 21/05/2018 17:16

I would be surprised by that yes. Having said that I cut my hand in Tesco's car park the other week and asked them for a wipe and plaster (not serious) and she said "Ohh how exciting we only got the first aid kit recently!" I asked her if it was a new one and she told me that hadn't had one - they've been open years!

lostinsunshine · 21/05/2018 17:49

It's her parents'/caters' job to make her feel better with a plaster . Not the NT.

nokidshere · 21/05/2018 18:12

that would be an enormous no no in the UK.

No it really isn't. As long as you have the permission of the parent.