Why First Aid for the Workplace Really Matters

first aid for workplace

The value that is placed on first aid for the workplace will vary from one location to the next. Unless a business has seen an individual suffer a serious health episode and are waiting on assistance, they will appreciate how time sensitive the need for intervention really is. This is a chance to discuss why these training programs are important and why they are much more than just contingency planning measures.

Being Able to Save Lives 

From the outset, it is important to establish that first aid for the workplace is not something that is designed for convenience or as a box-ticking exercise. This is a program that genuinely saves lives. When employees are suffering from major health episodes, whether this is through cardiovascular events, breathing difficulties, strokes, epileptic seizures, fainting, or another scenario that requires intervention, it is paramount that there are trained people on the scene. It is a process that carries weight and value because it is genuinely a matter of life and death for those individuals involved.

Improved Access to Medical Equipment 

A key benefit of approaching programs that offer first aid for workplace is to ensure that the location has a sufficient level of medical equipment involved. This will span from a defibrillator to disposable gloves, bandages, tape, pads, scissors, inhalers, and more. It is very common for staff members on the ground to either lack access to those materials, to be unaware of where they are located or lack the education to recognize how they are applied. Access has to be granted in this context as they are positioned in clear locations.

Learning Updated Practices 

Businesses that are looking to make important gains with their first aid training will appreciate that these workplace initiatives that were rolled out 5, 10, and 15 years prior are not always identical to what they are today. This is often the case when new technologies and innovations are in play with app integration. By calling upon these industry specialists, it is possible to get up to speed with current practices and treatments that might be altered from those that other members participated in.

Coverage for Insurance & Liability 

The intricacies of workplace law can be lost on those members who are diligently operating on the ground and caring for their peers. Yet those owners and managers who are tasked with covering their legal responsibilities will see first aid for the workplace as an imperative process. This will allow them to bypass any potential litigation and any insurance concerns that could arise from medical malpractice.

Increasing Employee Skill Set 

Full-time workers understand that every credential and every skill will add to their resume. By working through first aid for the workplace and educating participants about best practices, they will have the intellectual property (IP) that can operate as an asset for the existing business or for other employers if they eventually leave.

Employee Peace of Mind 

Those businesses that undertake first aid for the workplace will find that employees are by and large happier and more confident in the space that they are operating. Even in the event that something should go wrong, they know that anyone could arrive to use the right resuscitation practices and to keep the person alive and responsive. Whether this pertains to individuals who are more at risk or just employees who are in vulnerable situations, it helps to know that there is a sufficient support network to hand before medical professionals arrive.

There is very little effort required for businesses to approach first aid for the workplace specialists. So long as they have enough staff to cater to and the availability, it is beneficial to reserve a time and to open communication about what programs they can provide.