The purpose of the first aid preparedness is to give first aid to those injured or who have fallen ill at the venue. The duty of the first aid preparedness is to also ensure that an emergency call has been made to 112 and that the authority units are guided to the scene. With regard to disasters and situations with multiple patients, the first aid preparedness gives first support to the event’s safety organisation and later to the authorities. First aid preparedness is an important part of an event’s safety arrangements.

The event organiser has the obligation to reserve the sufficient first aid preparedness for the event, depending on the nature of the event. There is no one clear rule for the sufficient number of first aid personnel at an event, so the number of the first aid personnel should be in relation to the size of the event’s public, its risks and the size of the area. With regard to the number and training of the first aid personnel, the possible special risks related to the event must be taken into account. These include such matters as the weather conditions, extreme sports, motorsports, difficult terrain, busy roads nearby, remote location, location on an island and waterways. The first aid equipment should also be sufficient in quality and amount in relation to the event’ s nature. Medication is not usually included in first aid preparedness. The emergency plan or the first aid plan must present who is in charge of the first aid preparedness and how has the event prepared for giving first aid. The more specific contents of the first aid plan are defined in the First aid plan form.

The minimum requirements for first aid preparedness presented below have been categorised, based on the event’s size. The sufficiency of the minimum requirements is assessed case-specifically on the basis of the nature of the event by the area’s rescue authorities and the area’s doctor in charge of the emergency medical services.

Events with 200–2,000 people should have an appointed person in charge of first aid, who has participated in at least the EA1 course or similar. Other first aid personnel must have sufficient first aid skills. No separate first aid plan is necessary for events with 200-2,000 people, as the first aid preparedness is described in the event’s emergency plan.

Events with 2,000–10,000 people should have an appointed person in charge of first aid, who has participated in at least the EA1 and EA2 courses or similar. The director of first aid must have experience of first aid operations during events. The other first aid personnel must have sufficient first aid skills and experience of first aid operations during events. A written first aid plan must be made for events with 2,000–10,000 people and it will be attached to the emergency plan.

With regard to events with over 10,000 people, the first aid organisation must have an appointed director of first aid, who has participated in at least the EA 1, 2 and 3 courses or similar OR, alternatively, has participated in at least the EA1 and 2 courses or similar and has an applicable training provided by health care services or rescue services. The director of the first aid organisation must have experience of managing the first aid operations of major events. The other first aid personnel must have sufficient first aid skills (usually EA 1 and 2 courses) and experience of first aid operations during events. The comprehensive arrangements of first aid operations for events with over 10,000 people should be negotiated with the area’s rescue authorities (and, through them, with the area’s doctor in charge of the emergency medical services), so that the cooperation between the event’s first aid organisation, the rescue services and the emergency medical services would go seamlessly. A written first aid plan must be made for events with over 10,000 people and it should be attached to the emergency plan. In addition to this, the director of the first aid organisation must deliver a short written operational report, compiled according to separate instructions, to the director in charge of emergency medical services after the event.

In Helsinki, the first aid plans are sent attached to the emergency plan by email to address pel.tapahtumat(at)hel.fi or by mail to address:
The City of Helsinki
Rescue Department / Events and temporary accommodation
PO Box 112
00099 The City of Helsinki

 

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