Although it is not a pleasant thought, the truth is that accidents and injuries in the workplace are more common than you may think. According to the Health and Safety Executive, there were 1.3 million working people suffering from a work-related illness in 2015/2016 in the UK.
A quick and efficient first aid response is necessary for the workplace to prevent serious injuries. Life-threatening injuries may not be common in the workplace, but minor and major ones are, and knowing first aid can make all the difference. So, why exactly is first aid training so important in the workplace, be it an office, the factory floor, a construction site, or any other place of work?
Provide Medical Treatment Until the Professionals Arrive
Someone trained in providing first aid can help to prevent a situation from becoming worse, as they can offer temporary treatment that can keep someone from deteriorating.
First aiders, therefore, are crucial because they help other employees during emergency situations until professional medical assistance arrives. From preventing someone from asphyxiating (the human brain can only handle approximately six minutes without oxygen, so every second counts) to administrating first aid to someone who had a heart attack or fell from a height, first aiders are indispensable in the workplace.
First Aid Training Increases Safety
Preventing injuries is an important part of first aid training and being knowledgeable in this subject can help people to become more aware of possible risks and easily avoid them. When people are more alert to what is happening around them, they tend to practice safe habits and, consequently, contribute to a reduction of the number of accidents and injuries.
Helps Saves Lives
While a first aider is not a medical professional, basic training can help him or her to identify possibly dangerous situations and act accordingly. Immediate action can save lives, whether due to an injury or an illness, so it’s crucial that your employees know what to do in the event of an emergency.
It might be instinctual to try to help someone who’s been injured, but most people don’t know what to do – a trained first aider, on the other hand, can respond to an accident and save someone’s life.
Have a More Positive Workplace
A big benefit for employers is that having one or more worker trained in first aid contributes to a happier and more positive workplace. After all, your employees will know that you care for them enough to ensure they have a safe work environment and their morale will be boosted.
Reduce Pain with First Aid Training
An important aspect of first aid training is that it can help to relieve pain. While this might not be a priority when it comes to more severe injuries, as the focus will be on ensuring the situation doesn’t get worse, it goes a long way when it comes to minor injuries. An injured employee might even be able to avoid going to accident and emergency if he or she is taken care of right after the accident occurred. Relieving pain can be as simple as applying an ice pack!
Every business in the UK needs to have a well-stocked first aid kit and, while it’s not mandatory by law to have first aiders in the company, both employees and employers can benefit from it.
This is especially important if your workplace involves possibly hazardous activities – we offer online first aid training that provides your employees with the necessary skills to assess injuries and their severity and to learn how to act on them. Get in touch with a member of our team or give us a ring on 01422 358184 and we’ll be on hand to answer any questions you may have.