Coroner's fears over police first aid training

A West Yorkshire coroner says she has " significant concerns" over training received by officers

A coroner has raised fears over the adequacy of first aid training given to West Yorkshire Police officers.

It comes after police were asked to check on Ann Laskowsky, 65, on 5 October last year after an inactivity alarm was triggered at her home but ambulance crews could not attend.

A report by a West Yorkshire coroner said that despite officers finding Ms Laskowsky unable to be woken, they concluded she did not need medical attention. She died in hospital the following day.

The coroner found that while medical attention would not have prevented her death, there were "significant concerns" over police training. A force spokesperson said the report's findings would be examined "in detail".

The Prevention of Future Deaths Report by West Yorkshire coroner Charlotte Keighley detailed that Ms Laskowsky "had a long history of significant mental health conditions associated with historic trauma" and "a long history of alcohol dependency".

Ms Keighley said in her report that Ms Laskowsky had struggled to form relationships of trust with professional and medical services and was known as an adult at risk.

'Lack of clarity'

The report found that when police officers entered Ms Laskowsky's home, they found her slumped on the sofa and noted that she was breathing, but only responded to them by moving her hand and would not open her eyes.

Ms Keighley wrote in her report: "At no stage was Ann considered to be alert, however, both officers considered that she had responded to prompts via some movement of her head and arms and by making noises."

Ms Keighley said that Ms Laskowsky died at Bradford Royal Infirmary on 6 October.

Even though it was not believed that earlier intervention would have saved her life, the coroner said in her report that she had written to West Yorkshire Police raising concerns over officers' first aid training.

"Evidence demonstrated an overwhelming lack of clarity in terms of the way in which officers are trained to assess whether an individual is alive, breathing and conscious," Ms Keighley wrote.

"The very nature of this evidence was such as to raise significant concerns as to the impact of this training upon the preservation of life."

Responding, a force spokesperson said: "West Yorkshire Police has received the coroner's Report to Prevent Future Deaths relating to the death of Ann Laskowsky.

"We will now consider its findings in detail with a view to responding to the coroner.

"Our thoughts remain with Ann's family and friends at this time."

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