ISO 7010 First Aid & Safe Condition Symbols: Meanings and Uses

This symbol should be displayed wherever first aid provision is available, including beside first aid kits, first aid rooms, treatment areas or designated first aid stations. It is suitable for workplaces, factories, warehouses, offices, schools, shops, construction sites and public buildings where people may need to locate medical assistance quickly.

Clear positioning is particularly important in larger or unfamiliar premises where first aid equipment may not be immediately visible. Placing the E003 sign above or close to the relevant equipment or facility helps employees, visitors and members of the public find the correct location without wasting valuable time during an emergency.

Using the ISO 7010 E003 symbol provides a consistent and widely recognised way of identifying first aid resources. It improves emergency preparedness, makes first aid provision easier to locate and helps ensure that assistance, equipment or trained personnel can be reached as quickly as possible when someone is injured or becomes unwell.

Emergency Telephone signs are most useful in places where rapid access to a dedicated means of communication may be important, such as industrial sites, large commercial buildings, transport facilities, remote work areas and other premises with established emergency arrangements. The sign should be displayed at or immediately beside the telephone so its purpose and location are clear.

In large or unfamiliar environments, an emergency telephone can easily be overlooked if it resembles ordinary communication equipment. Clearly marking it with the E004 symbol helps employees, visitors and contractors locate the correct telephone quickly and can reduce confusion when urgent assistance is needed.

Using the ISO 7010 E004 symbol provides a consistent visual reference for emergency communication facilities and can also be combined with an appropriate directional indicator where the telephone is not directly visible. This supports quicker access to emergency help and makes important safety equipment easier to identify throughout a site.

This sign is appropriate in workplaces, public buildings, healthcare facilities, industrial sites, transport hubs and other locations where a doctor is available as part of the emergency response arrangements. It should be displayed at or near the relevant medical room, treatment area or point where emergency medical assistance can be accessed.

In large or unfamiliar premises, people may not know where qualified medical help is located. The E009 symbol provides a clear visual reference, helping employees, visitors and members of the public find a doctor more quickly and reducing delays when someone needs urgent medical attention.

Using the ISO 7010 E009 symbol supports consistent emergency and first aid signage across a site. It improves awareness of available medical facilities and helps direct people towards appropriate professional assistance during an emergency, while reducing reliance on written directions alone.

AED signs should be displayed wherever a defibrillator is installed, including workplaces, airports, railway stations, shopping centres, sports facilities, schools and other public locations. Positioning the sign directly above or close to the equipment makes the defibrillator easier to find when urgent medical assistance is required.

During a cardiac emergency, quickly locating the nearest defibrillator can be extremely important. In large buildings or busy public areas, the E010 symbol provides an immediate visual reference that can help employees, visitors and members of the public identify the AED without having to search through rooms, cabinets or written instructions.

Using the ISO 7010 E010 symbol improves the visibility of emergency medical equipment and helps create consistent first aid signage throughout the premises. Clear identification of AED locations can support a faster emergency response and make essential equipment easier to access when every moment matters.

This symbol is especially important in laboratories, chemical handling areas, manufacturing plants, workshops, maintenance facilities and other workplaces where hazardous substances or airborne contaminants may come into contact with the eyes. It should be positioned directly at or close to the eyewash station so the equipment can be found immediately when required.

Speed can be critical following eye contamination, as delaying irrigation may increase the risk of lasting damage. A clearly visible E011 sign helps workers and visitors locate the eyewash equipment without having to search for it, which is particularly valuable in unfamiliar or busy work environments.

Displaying the ISO 7010 E011 symbol provides a consistent way of marking emergency eye-washing facilities throughout a workplace. It improves awareness of available first aid equipment, supports a faster response to eye exposure incidents and helps ensure that emergency washing facilities can be identified when every second counts.

This symbol should be displayed wherever emergency showers are provided, particularly in laboratories, chemical processing areas, battery rooms, industrial plants, manufacturing facilities and workplaces where there is a risk of harmful substances coming into contact with the body or clothing. The sign should be positioned directly at or very close to the shower so it can be seen without delay.

Its value is greatest in situations where rapid decontamination is essential. If someone is exposed to a corrosive or otherwise harmful substance, being able to locate the shower immediately can help reduce the severity of injury and support faster emergency treatment.

Using the ISO 7010 E012 symbol creates a clear and standardised way of identifying emergency shower facilities throughout a site. It improves awareness of available emergency equipment, helps workers and visitors find the correct location more quickly and supports consistent safe-condition signage alongside other first aid symbols such as eyewash stations and first aid points.

This symbol should be displayed in locations where stretchers form part of the emergency or first aid provision, such as hospitals, factories, warehouses, transport facilities, construction sites and large workplaces. The sign should be positioned at or close to the storage point so the equipment is easy to find without delay.

In an emergency, a stretcher may be needed where a casualty cannot walk or should not be moved without support. Clear identification of the storage location helps first aiders, emergency teams and other authorised personnel access the equipment more efficiently, particularly in large or unfamiliar premises.

Using the ISO 7010 E013 symbol creates a consistent visual reference for emergency transport equipment. It improves awareness of available first aid resources, supports quicker emergency response and helps ensure that a stretcher can be located when it is needed most.

Unlike most ISO 7010 safe condition signs found around buildings or workplaces, E014 is primarily intended for use with vehicles and compatible child restraint systems. It may appear on CPOD-equipped child seats, vehicle passenger seating areas or associated labels where the presence of the detection system needs to be clearly identified.

The symbol is useful because placing a rear-facing child seat in front of an active frontal airbag can create a serious risk of injury if the airbag deploys. By identifying compatible CPOD equipment, the sign helps users recognise when the vehicle and child seat are designed to work together with the presence and orientation detection system.

Displaying the E014 symbol provides a visual indication of this specialist safety feature and helps support the correct installation of compatible child restraints. Because the symbol relates to a specific detection system rather than all child seats, ISO guidance states that supplementary text, instructions, manuals or training should be provided to ensure its meaning is properly understood.

This symbol is useful in workplaces, factories, construction sites, schools, leisure facilities, transport locations and other premises where designated drinking water points are provided. It should be positioned directly at or close to the relevant tap, fountain, dispenser or water station so the safe drinking source can be identified easily.

Clear identification is particularly important in industrial, outdoor or temporary environments where several different water supplies may be present. Using the E015 symbol helps reduce uncertainty and makes it easier for employees, visitors and contractors to locate a suitable source of potable water without relying on written instructions alone.

Displaying the ISO 7010 E015 symbol supports consistent safe-condition signage and improves access to clearly identified drinking water facilities. It can help prevent confusion between potable and non-potable supplies while making designated drinking water points easier to recognise across a building or site.

This symbol should be displayed at or close to emergency stop buttons installed on machinery, production lines, industrial equipment, processing systems and other installations where rapid shutdown may be necessary. It is particularly useful where several controls are positioned together or where the emergency stop device may not be immediately obvious from the normal operating position.

During an accident, equipment malfunction or developing hazard, being able to locate the emergency stop control without delay can be extremely important. The E020 symbol creates a clear visual reference that helps operators, maintenance personnel and other authorised users identify the correct emergency control more quickly.

Using the E020 symbol improves the visibility of emergency stopping provisions and helps distinguish the location from ordinary operating controls. Clear identification can reduce hesitation during an emergency, support faster intervention and provide consistent ISO 7010 safety communication throughout machinery areas and industrial workplaces.

This symbol is particularly useful in locations where a dedicated medical grab bag forms part of the emergency response arrangements, such as ships, industrial sites, large workplaces, remote facilities and other higher-risk environments. It should be displayed directly at or close to the bag’s storage position so that emergency equipment can be located quickly when needed.

Unlike a general first aid sign, E027 identifies a specific portable bag of medical supplies. This can be valuable where first aid equipment needs to be carried rapidly to an injured or unwell person, rather than requiring the casualty to be brought to a fixed first aid station.

Clearly marking the location of a medical grab bag helps first aiders, emergency teams and other trained personnel access essential supplies more efficiently. Using the ISO 7010 E027 symbol also supports consistent emergency signage and reduces the risk of valuable time being lost while searching for medical equipment.

This symbol is most appropriate in locations where oxygen resuscitation equipment forms part of the emergency medical provision, such as ships, industrial facilities, specialist workplaces and medical or first aid areas. It should be displayed directly beside or close to the equipment so that trained personnel can find it quickly when responding to a casualty.

An oxygen resuscitator may be required where a person needs assisted breathing or emergency oxygen support, for example following smoke inhalation, near-drowning or another serious medical incident. Clearly marking its location can reduce the time spent searching for equipment and helps distinguish it from ordinary oxygen cylinders or other medical supplies.

Using the ISO 7010 E028 symbol provides a consistent visual reference for this specialist emergency equipment and improves awareness of its location. It supports faster access during an emergency, helps first aid or medical personnel identify the correct equipment, and contributes to clear, standardised safe-condition signage throughout a site.

This symbol can be used in workplaces, factories, warehouses, offices, construction sites, public buildings and other environments where trained first aid responders are designated as part of the emergency arrangements. It may also be incorporated into signage or identification systems that help people locate the first aider more quickly.

Unlike signs that identify a fixed first aid kit or treatment room, E064 relates specifically to the trained person who can provide assistance. This makes it particularly useful in larger workplaces or busy public environments where people may otherwise be unsure who is qualified to respond to an injury or medical incident.

Using the ISO 7010 E064 symbol helps improve the visibility of trained first aid personnel and can reduce delays when assistance is needed. By providing a standardised visual reference, it supports quicker identification of first aid responders and strengthens emergency preparedness across a workplace or site.

Rescue toboggans are most commonly associated with ski resorts, mountain areas, winter sports facilities and other snow-covered environments where an injured or unwell person may need to be transported across difficult terrain. The E071 sign should be positioned at or close to the equipment storage point so the rescue toboggan can be located without unnecessary delay.

In remote or snowy locations, conventional stretchers or wheeled transport may be unsuitable for moving a casualty safely. Clearly identifying the rescue toboggan helps ski patrols, first aid teams and emergency responders locate the appropriate equipment and begin transporting the casualty more efficiently.

Using the E071 symbol provides a consistent visual reference for specialist rescue equipment and improves awareness of its location throughout a site. Clear identification can reduce time spent searching during an emergency, support faster casualty response and help ensure that the correct transport equipment is available when access conditions are difficult.

This symbol is particularly suitable for emergency shelters, refuge areas, disaster response centres, remote workplaces, transport facilities and other locations where emergency provisions are maintained. It should be positioned at or close to the storage point so that food and water supplies can be found quickly when needed.

Emergency rations can become important when people are required to remain in a protected area for an extended period or when access to normal food and water supplies has been disrupted. Clearly identifying their location helps reduce uncertainty and makes essential supplies easier for occupants, responders and authorised personnel to access.

Using the E074 symbol supports organised emergency preparedness by providing a consistent visual reference for stored emergency provisions. Clear signage can improve awareness of available supplies, reduce time spent searching during an incident and help ensure that emergency food and drink resources are located efficiently when normal services are interrupted.