What level of cover do I need?

Here are some of the factors to consider when planning your level of event medical cover.

Key Considerations for Event First Aid/Medical Provision

• Where attendance exceeds 2,000 medical cover should be paramedic/nurse-led.

• Where attendance exceeds 10,000 medical cover should be doctor led.

• Except for small low-risk events (scored less than 15), organisers should not rely on NHS ambulances to convey patients from site to hospital. Plans should cater for conveyance of all casualties from the scene to hospital as part of the medical provider’s service.

• First Aid/Medical staff should not undertake another role e.g. stewards being classed as first aiders.

• First Aid/Medical providers should not be expected to be responsible for lost children. Nor would it be appropriate for a lost child to be held at a first-aid point for any length of time.

• The structure of medical vs welfare facilities on site should be planned around workload and illness/injury severity expected. The medical staffing plan should clearly define how resources will be structured around these facilities, ensuring an area is preserved for acute medical illness/injury at all times.

• Medical provision should remain in place to cover dispersal of crowds.

• Where staff are being supplied to act in their capacity as registered Health Care Professionals (under protected titles such as Paramedic, Nurse and Doctor) the event organiser should check that their registration is correct.

As a minimum First Responders for events should:

• Hold a current certificate in Pre-hospital Care such as FREC 3 or FPOS.

• Have access to – and competence in the use of – Automated External Defibrillators (AED).

• Have training in the safe manual handling of patients.

• Show evidence of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks or local equivalent, in accordance with current government standards.

• Show evidence of training in the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.

• Be able to understand and communicate verbal and written instructions in English.