Despite often being overlooked, first aid skill is an essential skill to have. Having employees trained in first aid skills can improve workplace safety, creating a more secure and productive environment.
While a first aid kit is common to have in offices, not every company has provided first aid skill training for their employees. This kind of training is often overlooked in a low-risk environment because there are no significant hazardous practices. However, giving your employees basic first aid skills training can be crucial for workplace safety, including for the low-risk ones.
Nobody wants to face an emergency situation. However, to ensure readiness, here are some basic first aid skills that every employee should know and be able to perform.
Basic First Aid Skills at the Workplace
Although offices generally don't pose a high risk of accidents, it’s still crucial to take an anticipatory approach to prevent incidents. Aside from regularly maintaining the first aid kit, here are some first aid skills that can change one’s life in emergency situations.
CPR + AED
According to the Singapore Heart Foundation, the chance of cardiac emergency survival drops by 10% for every minute that nothing is done to resuscitate the patient. Bystander CPR and AED while waiting for the ambulance to come will increase the survival rate.
CPR, or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, is a response to cardiac emergencies. CPR training usually teaches its participants to do hands-on chest compressions and rescue breaths. Participants will also learn to understand the importance of timely access and identify the signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest.
CPR training usually includes AED training in its course. An Automated External Defibrillator, or AED, is a portable medical device that delivers an electrical shock through the chest to the heart. By delivering this shock, an AED treats the irregular heart rhythms and re-establishes the regular rhythms.
Wound Care
Despite minimal exposure to dangerous machinery, anyone in a low-risk office can get wounded. Wounds can occur externally or internally, and they can involve bleeding. By enrolling in a wound care training, your employees will learn about assessing the wounds, cleaning and dressing them, and recognizing abnormal wound conditions.
Burn Treatment
Another common low-risk accident is getting burned. Depending on its severity, burn treatment comes in several ways. The general rule of thumb is to pour cool water on the wound, but when a more severe case of burn happens, it should be immediately treated by professionals. In burn treatment training, your employee will mostly learn to handle mild burn wounds correctly and effectively.
Fracture and Sprain Care
Sprain, strain, dislocation, and fracture can occur to anyone, including employees in low-risk offices. Knowing how to immobilize possible broken bones or any injured limbs can prevent further complications and reduce pain. In first aid training for treating fractures and sprains, employees will learn to apply splints correctly on the injured limbs, as well as create makeshift splints when the pre-made ones are unavailable.
Why are First Aid Skills Important at the Workplace?
Giving first aid is not the same as medical care. The first thing to do when an accident happens is to immediately call Emergency Services and communicate the details about the casualty. However, performing first aid correctly during a resuscitative hour while waiting for the professional to arrive can offer a higher chance of survival.
For employees, first aid training enhances workplace safety awareness. When an accident occurs, trained employees can immediately assess and handle the situation efficiently. Furthermore, as a member of society, this skill is also useful when there is an emergency situation outside the workplace environment.
Final Thought
Although offices are low-risk environments, training employees in basic first aid is essential. It will be valuable in case of a workplace emergency. Understanding how to respond and provide immediate care to a critical situation can potentially save lives. Furthermore, by strengthening your employees’ first aid skills, you can create a more secure and safer work environment for everyone.
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