First Aid – “What’s The Worst That Can Happen?”

First Aid Training

Why is First Aid so important you might ask? More importantly, why should you train your employees on First Aid?

Unpleasant though it may be, the fact remains that accidents happen. Even experiencing it as a bystander, an accident is not a pleasant scene.

If an accident happens in the workplace, you cannot be a helpless witness, since simply standing by can potentially worsen the situation. This is why it’s important to have at least a basic knowledge of first aid.

I would like to share some of the experiences I’ve had with candidates, and why sending your employees for first aid training is so beneficial. Employees are uplifted with a set of life-saving skills to preserve lives, relieve pain, prevent further injury and promote recovery. Secondly and which results in the most satisfaction for me as an instructor is to see the candidates enjoy themselves, walking away with feeling a sense of responsibility as they are eager to share what they have learnt with others.

What might seem unnecessary or “a waste of money” to you might be life-changing or more importantly life-saving for another.

At its most basic, first aid is the initial assistance given to a victim of injury or illness. Comprised of relatively simple techniques, first aid is usually carried out by an employee or competent person until professional medical assistance arrives. While everyone can benefit from first aid training, it may be a more necessary requirement for certain people.

Various businesses require their employees to be trained in first aid. The type and extent of the training depending on the job specifics. However, anyone who works in high-risk environments should have basic first aid knowledge. As such, many employees in factories, machine shops and industrial plants are provided with lessons in first aid procedures.

Accidents will always happen. Because of this, properly-trained individuals and the right first aid equipment help ensure better safety for everyone. Without the proper first aid, a simple injury could turn into something much more severe. Many fatalities resulting from accidents and emergency situations result from a lack of immediate medical treatment. First aid doesn’t just facilitate recovery. It helps save lives.

When selecting first aiders for your workplace you will need to take into account Section 3(4) of the Occupational Health & Safety act of 1993 which states;

“(4) Where more than 10 employees are employed at a workplace, the employer of such employees shall take steps to ensure that for every group of up to 50 employees at that workplace, or in the case of a shop or an office as contemplated in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1983 (Act No. 3 of 1983), for every group of up to 100 employees, at least one person is readily available during normal working hours, who is in possession of a valid certificate of competency in first aid…”

The law makes it very clear as to the number of first aiders that are legally required in the workplace. I would like to think that there should be one first aider for each team that are working on-site, whether there are 2 or more employees. By doing this, it allows for the health and safety of the team and more employees are uplifted with this skill…”

“The steps a rescuer takes during the first few minutes of a medical emergency are critical – they can mean the difference between temporary or permanent disability or between life and death. That’s why first-aid knowledge and training are so important. They prepare you to intervene calmly and effectively in a medical emergency. Everyone has a chance to be a lifesaver.” – Dr Kathleen Handal, MD.

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