Can a first aider administer drugs?

Answer 1

Legally, no... we're not allowed to administer drugs. For example, an Asthma attack, when administering an inhaler you MUST NOT give the casualty the inhaler, you're not allowed to, you can only "assist" the casualty to take the inhaler.

Answer 2

That depends entirely on the Country and the Organisation the first aider works/ volunteers for. Volunteers of St John Ambulance in England are allowed to give 1g of paracetamol as long as they have received training in it and ask all the nececary questions:

have you taken paracetamol before and are you allergic to it?

have you had any alcohol in the last 4 hours?

have you had any drugs in the last 4 hours?

have you had any paracetamol in the last 4 hours?

have you had any drugs which may have contained paracetamol in the last 4 hours?

Have you banged your head recently?

Answer 3

Some first aiders can give Paracetamol. This is dependant on the organization's rules regarding the subject and also the level of training the individual has received. For instance adults in St John Ambulance can give the drug. Cadets may not, but they may assist with forms etc, however. The must ask certain questions on the patients history.

These questions are:

Have you taken paracetamol before, are you allergic to it?

Have you had any alcohol in the last 4 hours?

Have you taken any drug(s) in the last 4 hours?

Have you taken any paracetamol in the last 4 hours?

Have you taken any drug(s) which may have contained paracetamol in the last 4 hours?

Have you banged your head recently?

These questions are in files within each unit; it is SJA regulation to ask these questions. The HSE has released regulations on this subject.