CalmComplianceRisk Assessment template
First-Aid Equipment and Facilities Needs Assessment
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Audience
- Leaders, employers, premises managers, first-aid coordinators, appointed persons and other staff responsible for assessing or managing first-aid equipment and facilities in maintained and academy schools.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Activity assessed
Assess and document first-aid materials, equipment and facilities for pupils, staff, visitors and other people supported by the school, including separate sites, large or split-level areas, sports fields, playgrounds, higher-risk areas and off-site activities where applicable.
Assess each hazard and its controls against your site before use. Template ratings require local review.
Hazards and controls
Insufficient first-aid materials or equipment for the people, activities, locations or risks supported by the school, resulting in delayed or inadequate first-aid response.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls were supplied. Confirm and record any current first-aid needs assessment, equipment provision, arrangements and responsible persons before relying on them as existing controls.
- Proposed controls
- Complete or review a first-aid needs assessment covering the school population, staff and visitors; each school site; the layout and distances between areas; sports and playground activities; higher-risk areas; practical, scientific or other activities; and off-site activities where applicable. Determine the quantity and contents of first-aid containers and other equipment from the identified needs. Provide sufficient materials and equipment to meet those identified needs. Where no special risk is identified, consider the cited HSE guide provision as a starting point only, rather than as a mandatory contents list.
Local assessment and additional controls
A school site, remote area or activity location may lack a suitable first-aid container or other required provision, causing avoidable delay in obtaining first aid.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific information was supplied about the number of sites, buildings, activity areas, remote locations or current container coverage. Verify coverage for each location.
- Proposed controls
- Plan for at least one fully stocked first-aid container for each site, subject to the school's needs assessment. Consider additional containers for large or split-level sites, distant sports fields or playgrounds, other high-risk areas and off-site activities where applicable. Record the locations covered, the rationale for additional provision and any arrangements for taking suitable equipment away from the school site.
Local assessment and additional controls
First-aid materials or equipment may be difficult to locate, reach or use promptly, increasing the time before treatment is provided.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific observations or evidence about accessibility, routes, storage arrangements or staff awareness were supplied. Confirm these matters for each relevant location.
- Proposed controls
- Site first-aid containers and other required equipment so they are readily accessible and can be obtained promptly by appropriate staff. Consider the school layout, access routes, locked or restricted areas, opening hours, emergency arrangements and relevant activities. Where possible, site first-aid containers near hand-washing facilities. Document locations and communicate them to relevant staff without relying on assumptions about site familiarity.
Local assessment and additional controls
First-aid containers or facilities may not be identifiable, leading to delay or confusion when equipment is needed.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific evidence about container markings, signs or labels was supplied. Check and record the identification arrangements in use at each relevant location.
- Proposed controls
- Suitably label first-aid equipment and facilities so they can be identified promptly. Mark first-aid containers with a white cross on a green background. Check that labels remain visible, accurate and appropriate for the location, including where containers are placed in separate buildings, remote areas or used for off-site activities.
Local assessment and additional controls
Equipment or materials may be unsuitable for the school's identified risks, population, activities or locations, resulting in ineffective or inappropriate first-aid provision.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific risk profile, equipment inventory or suitability review was supplied. Identify and verify the relevant hazards, activities, users and existing equipment before determining adequacy.
- Proposed controls
- Use the first-aid needs assessment to determine what materials and equipment are suitable for the school rather than applying an assumed universal kit. Consider identified special risks, foreseeable injuries, the people supported, the locations in which treatment may be needed and activities taking place on or off site. Review suitability when the population, activities, layout, risks or arrangements change.
Local assessment and additional controls
First-aid containers may be incomplete, depleted or out of date when required, reducing the availability of usable equipment.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific inspection, stock, replenishment or disposal records were supplied. Confirm whether these arrangements exist and identify any responsible person before treating them as existing controls.
- Proposed controls
- Identify the first aider or appointed person responsible for examining first-aid container contents. Check first-aid kits frequently, restock them as soon as possible after use and safely discard items after their expiry date. Keep a proportionate record of checks, deficiencies, replenishment and disposal, including the container or location checked and any outstanding action.
Local assessment and additional controls
Remote, higher-risk or off-site activities may not have timely access to the first-aid equipment identified as necessary for those activities.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific information about remote areas, higher-risk activities, educational visits, sporting activities or current portable provision was supplied. Determine applicability from the school's activities and needs assessment.
- Proposed controls
- Where the needs assessment identifies a requirement, provide additional or portable first-aid containers for distant sports fields, playgrounds, higher-risk areas or off-site activities. Confirm before each relevant activity that the required equipment is present, suitably labelled, accessible and appropriately stocked, and arrange for inspection and restocking after use.
Local assessment and additional controls