AboutGustavo E. Flores Expertise I am a volunteer Firefighter Paramedic, Swiftwater Rescue Technician Instructor, Basic Life Support Instructor, Advanced Cardiac Life Support Instructor and Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor, as well as a PADI Open Water Diver instructor, lifeguard, search and rescue specialist. I regularly teach for a health and safety consulting company specializing on industrial emergency response teams development. Feel free to contact me anytime. I am just an e-mail away from you!
Experience Volunteer for Fire Department's Special Operations Division, Team Leader and active member of an all-volunteer water rescue team and instructor for a training company. I am also a rescue specialist for our local Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.
Organizations National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR).
Question I am responsible for health and safety in a mall in caracas, venezuela, and I have been told that the first aid box must be full of pills, against aches, you know...stomach. head etc... but who is a doctor to prescribe this pill in case any worker suffers for example from a headache? what`s your opinion?
thank you..
Answer Greetings aurax,
I will try to summarize a rather long answer from several point of views. Because local laws may apply, I strongly suggest consulting with a local lawyer for specific legal advise, as this should not be construed as medico-legal advice on such a topic.
Although each jurisdiction may have its unique laws requiring and/or limiting stocking of first aid supplies (including medications), I am not aware of any law that requires a "first aid box" to be "full of pills [...]". Again, if you have a specific local law that requires to have a certain medication, then the local regulation prevails. However, common sense dictates otherwise.
Some medications may cause allergies (aspirin for example). Some drugs may contain salicilates (aspirin precursors)... Pepto Bismol comes to mind as an example, and alka seltzer. So, having these medications available may put the company at risk for litigation in the event of an allergic reaction. On the other hand, some settings are staffed by a healthcare provider (ie. a paramedic, nurse or physician) and may even have "standing orders" (a protocol, signed by a licensed physician, that dictates how to proceed with regards to an otherwise-restricted action). However, this is not the norm.
My overall recommendation would be to stay away from providing medications at the work setting. You may provide a vending machine and/or provide a private area (locker room?) for employees to store their personal belongings (including any common over-the-counter prescription drugs they might foresee needing and not being able to acquire otherwise).
I hope this information proves useful to you. If there is anything else I can do for you, feel free to contact me again. Los exhorto a que preparen a su personal con un curso de primeros auxilios y resucitación cardiopulmonar.
