First aid and fire marshal

[Deleted User]

pmduk wrote: »

In many companies, you can't do both as they can have competing responsibilities. In an emergency, a first-aider's role is to get out and be ready to treat any injuries, whilst the fire warden/marshal may still be inside checking that the building is empty.

I agree. I have been a fire marshall in the past and could not also be a first aider at the same time.

There was in fact an office fire and full evacuation during my time. I was one of the last out of the building as I was a marshall for the top floor. Not an nice experience during a fire.

It was a volunteer position with no extra pay and didn't expect anything either.

Savvy_Sue

pmduk wrote: »

In many companies, you can't do both as they can have competing responsibilities. In an emergency, a first-aider's role is to get out and be ready to treat any injuries, whilst the fire warden/marshal may still be inside checking that the building is empty.

I don't think we'd thought of that. We have just had a Fire Risk Assessment and the recommendation was that because we are a small organisation that every member of staff should take some responsibility for ensuring that everyone had left whichever area they were in.

My manager is resisting the use of Hi-Vis vests: I've said that we must have some, because if there is an actual incident, the emergency services will want to be able to see who is in charge, not have to ask around. Perhaps we should have some for the First Aiders too ...

pmduk

If everybody shares responsibility the risk is it gets left to everyone else. I agree with the hi-vis jacket for first-aiders though.

Savvy_Sue

pmduk wrote: »

If everybody shares responsibility the risk is it gets left to everyone else. I agree with the hi-vis jacket for first-aiders though.

It's tricky: we have sent two managers for training, but there's always the possibility that neither will be in, or that they'll both be in the same part of the building. We could say 'all managers', but again, we occasionally have the situation where none of them are in, or that one part of the building is unmanaged.

Hence the recommendation that everyone receives some training, we all co-operate to get everyone out and then the two most senior people get given the Hi-Vis jackets which are going in our new Fire Bag! We're a small staff team so we all know who's who.

antonic

I am a Civil Servant and have been a First Aider for 13 years.

Like others have said don`t get paid anything extra for it, but I do get to put it on my Performance Management each year, and I get my requalification paid for every 3 years and I get two days paid time off to requalify.

I also have a nice warm feeling that I can help my work colleagues when needed.

Also as I am a First Aider I cant be a Fire Marshall as I cant do both.

[Deleted User]

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

...

Hence the recommendation that everyone receives some training, we all co-operate to get everyone out and then the two most senior people get given the Hi-Vis jackets which are going in our new Fire Bag! We're a small staff team so we all know who's who.

They probably need to be closer to hand then a fire bag.

In the fire I was in the fire started in the basement parking garage next to a stairwell which then acted like a chimney pushing thick, acrid, oil-laden smoke up in the building.

Luckily the security guard on reception used his noggin and called me first (on the top floor) as he knew it would be harder for us to get out as we were at the top of the building. He then started calling floor 4, floor 3 and so on.

I took the call, stood up put the hi-vis vest on which was on the back of my chair whilst telling me team to get out NOW and don't use the x stairway. I cleared the floor of about 90 people, including toilets and meeting rooms in a few minutes. By then you could barely see, or breathe. I would not have had time to grab a fire bag.

ElefantEd

I've been both, never been paid anything extra.

Savvy_Sue

Spider_In_The_Bath wrote: »

They probably need to be closer to hand then a fire bag.

In the fire I was in the fire started in the basement parking garage next to a stairwell which then acted like a chimney pushing thick, acrid, oil-laden smoke up in the building.

Luckily the security guard on reception used his noggin and called me first (on the top floor) as he knew it would be harder for us to get out as we were at the top of the building. He then started calling floor 4, floor 3 and so on.

I took the call, stood up put the hi-vis vest on which was on the back of my chair whilst telling me team to get out NOW and don't use the x stairway. I cleared the floor of about 90 people, including toilets and meeting rooms in a few minutes. By then you could barely see, or breathe. I would not have had time to grab a fire bag.

Fair point, but ours is a smaller building, it's actually two more domestic buildings joined together. The Fire Bag is to go by the main exit door - I did ask if we needed two but was told that for the size of building / staff team one was adequate.

Wondering though if I'll keep one jacket on the back of my chair, as I am nearest to that main door, and hand it to the first manager I see. That's if it's not me setting the alarms off.