Firstly, we need to ask, what is First Aid?
First aid in its’ truest form is the immediate assistance given to any person with a minor or serious illness or injury, with care provided to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, or to promote recovery until medical services arrive
Increasingly in the workplace we are seeing support for Mental Health First Aid, to assist those in mental health crisis, Psychological First Aid, early intervention for those at direct risk of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), usually deployed by specialists after traumatic events e.g. terrorist attack, and in limited areas we are seeing the rise of Conflict First Aid, focused on preservation and recovery of an individual’s social or relationship well-being
Looking holistically at the situation, as with most things to do with health and safety, it breaks down to the following.
Moral obligations
Morally, it is the right thing to do to help, especially if you can meet the tenets of First Aid, to preserve life, prevent worsening and / or promote recovery
The proliferation of publicly placed Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) which require no training to use has shown an increase in awareness and willingness to assist those in need in their time of physical crisis
Additionally, if a company is providing first aid training it can enhance team spirit and morale, leading to an enhanced safety culture, as employees feel valued and equipped with important life skills, whilst also potentially benefitting the local community with people being prepared to assist in emergencies, whether at home, in public places, or during community events
Legal requirements
As an employer you are responsible for making sure that your employees receive immediate attention if they are taken ill or are injured at work
A First Aid Risk Assessment should be undertaken to identify what level of First Aid cover is required, it may be as simple as a properly stocked First Aid box, and someone identified to call for emergency assistance
You may have a level of hazard or risk identified in the workplace that requires you to provide an immediate response to minor injury or ill-health, in which case the 1-day Emergency First Aid at Work course may fit-the-bill
With a higher level of hazard or risk, you will almost certainly need qualified and competent first aiders with a greater level of knowledge over an array of more serious injuries and acute ill-health conditions e.g. anaphylaxis, therefore the 3-day First Aid at Work course would be the way-to-go
Any First Aid training should be delivered by a competent provider to the nationally regulated qualifications standard. The employer should undertake their own due diligence regarding training providers, to ensure they are appropriately qualified to deliver the training they are offering
Financial considerations
Individuals trained in first aid are often more conscious of potential hazards and risks, leading to more proactive safety measures in everyday life, this “rubs-off” on colleagues, leading to less accidents / incidents and therefore less financial pressure from the ensuing investigation and down-time and lost-time to injury / illness
A lower accident rate, could potentially lower / stabilise insurance premiums, therefore saving money, but also projecting a good image of the business as a safe place to work, which may help win future orders
So, how can you save a life?
There are many medical conditions that benefit from a prompt and immediate response. Advertising campaigns on how to react to the signs of a stroke were prevalent only a short time ago
Do you remember THINK FAST!?
- Facial drooping
- Arm weakness
- Slurred speech
- Time to call 999 / 112
With advertising campaigns, greater knowledge in the general public and an immediate response, you can potentially save a life
It has been medically proven that early intervention in some heart conditions can improve survival rates by up-to 67%, you can only do that with First Aid training.
Watson and Watson Health and Safety Consultants provide both the 1-day and 3-day courses, delivered by instructors that include:
- Paramedics
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Firefighters
- and former military personnel
in a programme clinically led by Dr Adam Connor and accredited by the Chartered Institute for Environmental Health.
