The heart of Martyn’s Law is to improve preparedness and response time in emergencies within public settings. But being prepared isn’t as effective without having the right first aid equipment and training to perform first aid when needed. Having first aid equipment in an emergency allows staff to respond quickly and effectively when providing care, reducing harm in those critical situations.
However, what first aid equipment should businesses now have?
There isn’t a set list of first aid supplies and first aid equipment, but what Martyn’s Law does is provide a more flexible and practical approach, depending on your business size and situation – one that is based on what is reasonably practicable.
What does “reasonably practicable” first aid equipment mean?
With the introduction of Martyn’s Law, organisations are expected to now introduce appropriate and proportionate steps to protect people and reduce harm. This includes conducting security risk assessments and enhancing emergency preparedness, which also includes important decisions around
first aid equipment.
Some points to consider what reasonably practicable means are:
- Does your first aid equipment reflect the size and type of your venue
- It is appropriate to the level of risk
- Is it realistic to implement and maintain
Asking these questions helps smaller venues avoid becoming overburdened
but allows larger venues and those at high risk to take more robust steps in first aid implementation.
Although it is already a legal requirement to provide appropriate
first aid supplies, as outlined by The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, with Martyn’s Law, it's advised to review your current first aid provision to determine whether it’s appropriate for your
venue and level of risk.
For example, it's good practise to have a Public Access Trauma Kit (PAcT) easily accessible within your venue, because it could make the difference between life and death. As they’re used to treat life-threatening bleeding with their contents of tourniquets, dressings and bandages – and one of the aims of Martyn’s Law is to reduce the impact of a mass casualty event. Therefore, by keeping a PAcT kit on site, you’ve taken steps to reduce the risk of life.
Standard duty vs Enhanced: What equipment should you consider?
As mentioned before, Martyn’s Law introduces two tiers: Standard and Enhanced. These tiers help workplaces, organisations and events understand the level of preparedness that’s expected of them, based on their size and capacity.
Although first aid equipment is not a strict legal requirement under Martyn’s Law, it is encouraged and highly recommended. Below are some first aid equipment considerations you should consider.
Standard Tier: (200 – 799 capacity)
This tier applies to venues with a capacity of 200 – 799 people and focuses on simple and practical safety measures, including:
- Well-stocked workplace first aid kits
- Clearly marked and easy to access locations
- Basic first aid supplies that staff can use to treat common injuries
At the Standard tier, the aim is to make sure staff have the tools they need to provide immediate care.
Enhanced Tier: (800+ capacity)
This tier applies to larger venues or events with an 800+ capacity. These are labelled to be at greater risk, so extra precautions should be considered, such as:
- Multiple first aid kits across the entire site
- Automated external defibrillators onsite (multiple if needed)
- Additional or specialist equipment depending on risk (e.g. evacuation chairs)
As highlighted in the requirements of Martyn’s Law, preparedness should align with the size and nature of the venue. Response measures should reflect what’s appropriate and practical for the capacity size.
Trauma kits vs traditional first aid kits
A common question regarding Martyn’s Law may be whether standard first aid kits will be enough.
Traditional first aid kits are used to treat a variety of everyday injuries like: minor cuts and wounds, burns, sprains and soft tissue injuries. They wouldn’t be able to effectively treat major injuries like catastrophic bleeding. However, they’re vital for any workplace, and every organisation should have a first aid kit.
Trauma kits are designed for more serious and life-threatening injuries and situations. While not every organisation or workplace will need trauma kits, they should be considered for higher-risk environments such as stadiums and concert venues, larger venues with increased footfall, and in environments where emergency response times may be longer.
By considering adding traditional first aid kits, trauma, or PaCT kits to your emergency response measures, you’re more likely to make a life-saving difference in situations where seconds count.
Accessibility, placement and maintenance of first aid equipment
Accessibility
Having the right first aid equipment is the first step in producing a better safety response. However, to be truly effective, life-saving equipment and first aid kits should be:
- Easy to find
- Ready to use
- Maintained over time
If first aid kits aren’t in an accessible location, it will delay treatment time, which may lead to complications for the injured person. As in an emergency, there may not be enough time to locate or second-guess where it may be stored.
To complement Martyn’s Law, preparedness is a vital requirement, so this means that first aid equipment should be:
- Clearly visible and well signposted
- Located in areas of higher footfall and where staff can easily locate it
- Known to all staff and team members
First aid kits and equipment should also be maintained, up-to-date and replenished when used. It’s important for staff to know where it is, what is available and how to use it.
Placement
The placement of your first aid equipment is crucial. They need to be easily accessible (not in high places or locked in cabinets), and they should reflect how your space is used.
For example:
- Larger venues may need multiple first aid kits across the site
- Areas of high traffic may need more immediate access
- Staff-only areas should still provide accessible equipment for employees
All these steps aim to reduce response time and ensure help is available wherever the incident is.
Maintenance
Any first aid kit or first aid equipment you have must be properly maintained.
This means:
- Checking contents are still in date
- Replenishing items that have been used
- Ensuring kits remain in the correct locations
- Ensuring no piece of equipment is damaged or faulty
Because preparedness is about having the right equipment and knowing it will work when it matters most.
First Aid Equipment
St John Ambulance HEART Two Semi-automatic Defibrillator
St John Ambulance Large Workplace First Aid Kit Grab Bag BS-8599-1:2019
St John Ambulance Public Access Trauma PAcT First Aid Kit with Tourni-key
Evacusafe Excel Tracked Evacuation Chair
St John Ambulance Carrying Sheet
St John Ambulance Ten Second Triage Kit
Evacuation Chair Sign Vinyl 450 x 150mm
AED Automated External Defibrillator Sign Vinyl 300 x 250mm
Fire Exit Left Sign Vinyl 450 x 150mm
Fire Exit Right Sign Vinyl 450 x 150mm
Fire Exit Down Sign Vinyl 450 x 150mm
Final Fire Exit Sign Vinyl 450 x 150mm
First Aid Equipment
Explore our recommended first aid supplies that support emergency preparedness
Browse workplace first aid suppliesMartyn’s Law aims for every organisation to be better prepared and develop a more effective safety response in place. It doesn’t require every organisation to have the same equipment, but by thinking about what your organisation needs and taking a reasonably practical approach.
Small venues may take the steps in introducing more first aid kits, while larger organisations might add automated external defibrillators across their site, or evacuation chairs and PaCT kits.
By following this guidance, you’ll be taking the right steps in supporting your teams and protecting the public. In an emergency, having the right equipment, in the right place and ready to use, can make all the difference.
Recommended reading
Further reading
- Why First Aid Training matters under Martyn's Law
- Life-threatening bleeding: A critical skill for public-facing staff
- Understanding Martyn's Law for retailers and shopping centres
- Understanding Martyn's Law for the hospitality sector
- Understanding Martyn's Law for education, healthcare and places of worship
- Understanding Martyn's Law for events, festivals and temporary venues
