First aid IS vital to your health, and refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the location where it occurred. According to OSHA every company is required to provide medical and first aid personnel and supplies commensurate with the hazards of the workplace. You also may have this requirement in the RAVS® section of your ISNetworld® account.
First aid is broad and includes medical attention such as:
- Cleaning minor cuts, scrapes, or scratches;
- Treating a minor burn
- applying bandages and dressings
- The use of non-prescription medicine
- Draining blisters
- Removing debris from the eyes
- Massage; and
- Drinking fluids to relieve heat stress
There are about 340 million occupational accidents and 160 million victims of work-related illnesses annually. Knowledge of first aid promotes a sense of safety and well-being. A worker trained in first aid is better able to assess their surroundings. A trained person is also more reliable, confident, and in control of themselves when an emergency arises. People who are trained in first aid have a higher tendency to act in an emergency situation. It can also be comforting to the patient or victim knowing that someone trained who remains calm is available to help. By providing basic care initially, a patient can be stabilized until emergency medical services arrive.
All workers, including managers and supervisors, benefit from first aid training, and ensuring they are up to date on their training. When an injury occurs, you must think and act quickly. Medical assistance may be only minutes away, but every second counts. Minutes can make the difference.
OSHA, for that very reason, recommends that all workers receive basic first aid training. This includes learning how to recognize and respond to common workplace injuries and illnesses, such as burns, cuts, and heart attacks to electric shocks and heat illness. Today’s first aid classes will cover traditional forms of first aid, like the Heimlich maneuver or in depth look at an AED or automated external defibrillator. These devices expand life saving opportunities. They are small, lightweight and ready when needed for safe, and effective use.
Workers should be familiar with the location of first aid supplies in their work area. Managers and supervisors play a critical role in ensuring that workers are to do all the things mentioned above. So, how do you implement first aid training at your place of work?
There are a few different ways to go about it. You can have an on-site trainer conduct the training (the simplest and easiest way but also most expensive), or you can send employees to a local first aid training provider or you can train your guys in-house with one of our training kits. We recommend this option as it allows an employer to train efficiently and without placing too many demands on the worker. Another benefit is the training cost is much lower. Retraining can easily be done through regular refresher courses or online modules.
When it comes to first aid, one size does not fit all. Luckily OSHA allows employers to tailor their training programs to meet the specific needs of their workplace. For example, if your workplace is in a remote area and medical assistance is far away, you may want to train workers on how to provide basic life support until help arrives. On the other hand, if your workplace has more hazardous conditions, then you may want workers trained in advanced first aid procedures. The important thing is that you have a program in place and that all employees receive some level of training.
No matter what type of First Aid Training you choose for your workplace, remember these key points:
- First Aid Training should be tailored to the specific needs of your workplace
- All workers should receive first aid training
- Keep employees up to date on First Aid Training with refresher courses and online modules.
Are you looking to implement a first aid training program in your workplace? JJ Safety can help! We’ll write a first aid program for your company that complies with federal OSHA regulations.
For First Aid training we have a few different options. Try our in-house first aid training kit, or if you’re looking for an online option, check out our online safety training platform.
Call at 866-627-3850 or email sales@jjsafetyllc.com to learn more.