Medication administration

If the ill or injured person has prescribed medication which will help their condition, the first aid provider can assist them to take it, if local regulations allow.

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Generally, a first aid provider is not authorised to prescribe or give medication. In some countries, these legal restrictions are evolving. Depending on the scope of practice, the target audience, medical oversight, as well as the extent and depth of the educational programme offered, medication administration may be appropriate and used in particular first aid situations.

Guidelines

Good practice points

  • In situations where a person has prescribed medication (such as an inhaler or auto-injector), first aider providers may assist them to take it to improve their condition, if local regulations allow.
  • First aid providers should learn about the common conditions they may encounter and the types of medication that may be used by an ill person.
  • First aid providers should become familiar with the various methods of administration (e.g. how to use the auto-injector or inhaler).
  • First aid providers should try to contact emergency medical services (EMS) before administering medication if possible.
  • First aid providers should inform EMS of any medication the person has taken or been administered, especially if the person is unable to communicate this information themself.
  • First aid providers should advise or assist the ill person to take their medication in accordance with the prescribed dose and administration route.

Education considerations

Context considerations
  • All countries have different laws and regulations regarding the medication a first aid provider may administer with or without a doctor’s prescription.
  • The following list includes examples of when a first aid provider may administer or assist with medication, depending on the laws, regulations, medical protocols, as well as the responsibilities and capabilities of the individual first aid provider:
    >    The emergency is well-defined, the need for medication is time-sensitive and the first aid provider has the proper training to:
    ⇒   recognise the situation
    ⇒   understand the dangers of the medication and when to avoid administering it
    ⇒   administer the medication as prescribed.
    >    The person is experiencing a sudden, acute presentation of a known chronic condition (e.g., allergy or asthma) and has specific medication for the condition that has been prescribed by a doctor. If the medication is available and the person wants or needs it, the first aid provider may assist them.
    >    The person is experiencing an acute presentation of a mild condition (headache, earache, mild allergies) and the person or the first aid provider has an appropriate over-the-counter medication available. If the person wants or needs the medication, the first aid provider may assist them.
Facilitation tips
  • Medication administration is better taught alongside a discussion of the chronic conditions they may be used for (e.g., asthma). This will help learners create connections between specific medications and their relevant conditions.
  • Encourage learners who are responsible for medication, to keep information about the medication with the medicine itself.
  • Emphasise to learners that they should ensure that the ill or injured person, and their support network, know where the person’s medication has been placed after an emergency incident.
  • Highlight that if the emergency medication needs to be refilled or replaced after use, they may need to advise the ill or injured person to access their doctor.
  • Encourage learners who are prescribed medication to share tips about how to remember to always carry and take their medication, or where to store it so they can always find it.
Facilitation tools
  • Where possible, facilitators should help learners practise using medication administration using training tools (e.g., an epinephrine autoinjector training tool without live medication in it).
Learning connections

First aid providers may typically administer or assist with medication for the following conditions:

References

No references available.

Related topics

Diabetic emergency
Asthma attack
Allergic reaction and anaphylaxis

Explore the guidelines

Published: 15 February 2021

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