Lack of First Aid, Training For TfL Staff & Defibrillators

[whole diary]

[CJB666]

In the haste to take over stations TfL^» (Transport for London - about) seem to have forgotten an important issue - first aid training for staff and the provision of items necessary for first aid.

On Saturday we had the unfortunate situation of a young guy who passed out just outside Hayes Station. He'd either fainted or worse. Likely it seemed to be due to the heat and humidity. Quite a crowd of passersby had gathered around him, but not one thought to put him in the recovery position. An ambulance was called - but meanwhile he probably needed some cold water. The TfL staff - two of them lurking in the upper foyer of the station - were approached. But 'no' the station did not have first aid facilities, 'no' they couldn't help because they hadn't been trained, 'no' they couldn't provide a cup of cold water. Basically the attitude was 'not our problem.'

Damned good job the hero cavers didn't have that attitude towards the Wild Boar kids in Thailand.

But the issue set me thinking. Why does TfL-run Hayes Station not have first aid facilities? Why are the TfL staff not trained in basic first aid? Why couldn't a cup of water be provided? Why did the TfL staff have a 'not our problem' attitude?

Its a damn good thing they don't have a heart attack issue to contend with. And what about defibrillators - does the station actually have one with someone trained to use it? I doubt it.

[JayMac]

No other premises near the collapsed man? Shops, offices, residences? No other folk with basic first aid skills. In your rant here you seem to know what was needed - recovery position. Did you bother to do that yourself? Or were you more concerned about what the TfL^» (Transport for London - about) staff would or wouldn't do? That's what it seems like.

Had to be the TfL staff or nothing did it?

Of course it did. Because CJB666, they are, according to you, the root of all evil, and any excuse to rant about them and their management of Hayes & Harlington is your modus operandi. It really is beyond tiresome.

[TaplowGreen]

Given the conditions being reported on trains today, I should imagine GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will be keeping various ambulance services throughout the region pretty busy themselves.

[Western Pathfinder]

Bravo Big Nose Mac. I feel no need to add anything further.

[WelshBluebird]

Regardless of the OP^▸ (Original Poster / topic starter)'s "reputation", not having at least one member of staff first aid trained and having no first aid provision at the station simply illegal. What if one of the members of staff had needed treatment at work? Certainly employers have a legal responsibility to their staff to provide first aid training and equipment so that staff can get treatment if they are injured at work. And I believe that responsibility also extends to the general public where you are an employer that invites the public onto your grounds. Regardless of other businesses being near by, or the fact it was "just outside" the station so it probably absolves TfL^» (Transport for London - about) from any legal responsibility in this case, the lack of any first aid training or equipment at all, if true (and I know that's the important phrase, hence the bold text!), is worrying to say the least!

[CJB666]

There are no PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) defibrillators available anywhere in Hayes or surrounds, least of all at any train stations. Not even at Heathrow.

https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life/defibrillators

"There are many defibrillators available in public places such as train stations, shopping centres, airport and leisure centres. These defibrillators are often known as public access defibrillators (PAD) as anyone can use them in an emergency. You shouldn’t be afraid of using a defibrillator if someone has had a cardiac arrest."

Huh - not in our area.