No first aiders at train station

[Mushroomlady]

An older woman tripped and fell in front of me on the station platform while running for a train today. She was very badly injured. I've been first aid trained for work so was able to help - removed her broken glasses, laid her down on her side, stemmed the bleeding (quite heavy), bandaged her up, shaded her from the sun, talked to her, etc. I asked if any of the station staff were first aiders and the answer was no! There was about 4 of them. I had to shout at them to call an ambulance, but it was another passenger that called as the staff were dithering and seemed quite clueless.

Aibu to be absolutely shocked about this? They are dealing with hundreds of passengers per day. How is it not essential that they have a certified first aider on site at all times?
Should I complain? Assume they would need to log it in accident book?

Interesting range of comments on this thred. I would like to say that Scouts (and presumably Guides) always have at last some first aid training (I mean the youngsters themselves as well as all adults. This includes assessment of the injured person (establishing if it might be safe to move them etc)as well as being aware of hazards (electricity or gas etc ) that could injure the first aider.
A minor diversion. Suicides are not accidents. Roman Kubiak, a solicitor in Cardiff (Hugh James) spent best part of a year making me suicidal through his deliberate actions. Then in the case of 'first aid' there are thoughts about being sued which is perhaps a reflection of American society moving to the UK.

I wonder if all train stations are owned by Network Rail, which is a public sector company. If yes, it's really no wonder that the stations are not staffed and exiting staff are not able to administer first aid to the public, this government does not care for the public. No surprises there. You did an amazing thing OP, please do complain, ideally on twitter. There is this awful culture of not giving a shit about others that's taken hold in this country.

Firstly the elderly woman should have been more careful
OMG this thread is really full of posters without a shred of empathy.
I witnessed an older lady falling badly on the stairs at Boots, she was bleeding profusely and distressed and disoriented. The young member of staff at Boots was incredibly kind, administered first aid and called an ambulance as the lady was unable to walk.

Some of the posters on here

It's utterly pathetic behaviour.
Thank goodness for people like the OP and yourself.

To be clear, it wasn’t suggesting they sue. I know they sue. You wouldn’t believe the amount of money the railway companies pay out because someone didn’t move out of the way of a door that was closing

Staff at stations are trained on the type of emergencies...someone falls on the track ect, someone gets caught in the doors ect.

People who use the trains need to learn to look out for themselves, because all the safety staff are slowly disappearing.

This is one of the reasons for train strikes.

Some stations are managed by NR but staffed by the main train co. So for instance York is an LNER station but Kings Cross is Network Rail. So the liability for slips, trips and falls differs depending on the above.

There are rarely any staff able to operate the disabled ramp at our station so I’m not surprised to hear there was no one first aid trained . At least rail fares are cheap. Oh wait

But you were there? As a trained first aider too, I wouldn't assume that amongst the staff on duty there would be a trained first aider. As a moral duty you stepped in, I'm pretty sure in a big busy place there's always someone with first aid skills.

I'm amazed at a station with staff! I can't remember when I last saw a staff member at my (London Zone 5) station.

@LittleScottieDog

if it’s your land you do have a duty of care don’t you?

I'm not sure why you would expect there to be first aiders. The lady could have fallen anywhere, such as a supermarket or restaurant. Would you expect staff in those places to have first aid training? Glad you were able to help.

@GarlicCrackers are you allowed to share this information online?

They did an announcement on the train (which had stopped) and a very nice off duty paramedic hopped out for a few minutes which was brilliant, but then he had to hop back on because the train was leaving.

He wouldn't have got back on the train if she needed an ambulance.

You said she needed an ambulance because she was drifting in and out of consciousness then you said you thought she was going to pass out. Which is it?

Why not? I doubt it’s a state secret.

That is the magic of the Freedom of Information Act

That's terrible, don't they have a duty of care for customers in store?
I had an accident in a shop once, wasn't even asking for help, just went to the till to apologise for bleeding over their display and they immediately got the first aid kit, cleaned me up and bandaged me and made me sit down for a while before leaving to make sure I was ok. Guess I was just lucky to be in a country where everyone is legally obliged to help when there's a country, and not in the UK where apparently they aren't, and some don't even feel the moral obligation.

OP I can understand them not having a trained first aider as that is an extra expense but really can't understand them not even calling an ambulance or offering to help you.

Thanks for the comments. Lots of food for thought. I'm not going to name the station here. I don't think I will complain because as PPs have explained it turns out they do not have a responsibility for first aid so I guess they did everything 'by the book'.
It has made me realise how much we just all need to look out for ourselves and each other.

Wasn't suggesting you named it in the thread but rather sent a PM. I answer this sorts of questions on a daily basis, I've answered 560 FOI queries in two years. Water off a ducks back

560 FOI queries in two years.

Interesting! You must get many fascinating (and mundane) requests. I had o idea that it's possible to use Mumsnet instead of the usual FOI request process.

I could tell you what our obligations are around first aiders
I could tell you the percentage of staff trained as first aiders

Can you tell us this information for Victoria and St Pancras stations? It would be fascinating to know.

@GarlicCrackers

I could tell you what our obligations are around first aiders
I could tell you the percentage of staff trained as first aiders
Can you tell us this information for Victoria and St Pancras stations? It would be fascinating to know.

It’s not really possible to use mumsnet lol, you’re better off using whatdotheyknow.com

I would have to see who is responsible for Victoria and St Pancras

The government ( sic) don’t run railways or railway stations. They haven’t done since 1997 ( btw, that was in response to an EU protocol). So they have nothing to do with staff training or wages.

MTH

I was in M&S when a lady fell on the escalator and cut her head. She was also lying head down in a very uncomfortable position. 2 nurses and a doctor helped her. The staff were a bit funny about it as none of us were technically first Aiders. The first aider had disappeared down the wrong escalator with the first aid kit. So not much help anyway!

@Allthegoodnamesarechosen the government are very much in charge of the purse strings when it comes to staffing levels, staff cuts, spending etc, The DFT certainly aren't going to spend money on things that are required by law

I wouldn't necessarily expect there to be a first aider available, but I think it's very poor that the staff didn't speak to her or reassure her and call an ambulance. I thought part of the reason for the strikes is that reducing staff on stations compromises safety etc.
I don't know how elderly this lady was but getting on and off the train etc. can be difficult for older people and you would expect staff to be helpful. (I know you can book assisted travel but sometimes all that's needed is someone to help lift a suitcase on etc.)
I think it's a bad thing that staffing levels are being reduced but if they aren't going to be helpful there's no point in them being there.