First aid at public events

First aid preparedness

The organiser of a public event must reserve sufficient first aid personnel and supplies for the event. While no unequivocal number of first aid personnel has been specified anywhere, it must be proportional to the number of people attending the event, the risks involved and the size of the area. The number and training of the first aid personnel must correspond with the special risks of the event, such as the weather conditions, extreme sports, motorsports, difficult terrain conditions, major traffic routes, remote locations, islands or water bodies as an event environment, etc.

The quality and quantity of first aid supplies must also be commensurate with the nature of the event. As a rule, medicines are not included in first aid preparedness. The emergency plan or first aid plan must indicate who is responsible for first aid preparedness and what preparations have been made for providing first aid. If necessary, the content of the first aid preparedness is specified in the first aid plan.

Minimum requirements

The minimum requirements for first aid preparedness presented below are divided according to the size of the event. The adequacy of the minimum requirements is assessed by the regional rescue authority and the physician in charge of prehospital emergency care in the region on a case-by-case basis based on the nature of the event.

Events for 200 to 2,000 people must have a designated first aid manager who has completed at least a basic first aid course. The other first aid personnel must have sufficient first aid skills. A separate first aid plan does not need to be prepared for events for 200 to 2,000 people; the first aid preparedness is described in the emergency plan for the event.

Events for 2,000 to 10,000 people must have a designated first aid manager who has completed at least the basic and demanding conditions first aid courses. The first aid manager must have experience in first aid operations at events. The other first aid personnel must have sufficient first aid skills and experience of first aid operations at events. A written first aid plan must be prepared on the provision of first aid and attached to the emergency plan.

Events for more than 10,000 people must have a first aid organisation with a designated first aid manager who has completed at least the basic and demanding conditions first aid courses or, alternatively, at least the basic and demanding conditions first aid courses or equivalent and appropriate health care or rescue service training. A written first aid plan must be prepared for the provision of first aid at events of more than 10,000 persons and attached to the emergency plan.

The head of the first aid organisation must have experience in the management of first aid operations at large-scale events. The other first aid personnel must have sufficient first aid skills and experience in first aid operations at events. For events of more than 10,000 people, the organisation of first aid in its entirety must be negotiated with the regional rescue authority and, through it, with the physician in charge of prehospital emergency care to ensure seamless cooperation between the event’s first aid organisation, the rescue services and prehospital emergency care.

For more information on first aid preparedness, planning, materials and personnel training level, contact your local rescue department.