The Importance of First Aid Training in the Workplace
Why we need first aid training
First aid training for all employees is highly recommended for the safety and prevention of illness or injury in the workplace, and it’s a legal requirement as a company to ensure your employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. You must provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to deal with emergency situations to provide aid before further support arrives. To get a better understanding of how first aid training will benefit your business and your employees,top 7 benefits of first aid training
- It can save lives
This is, of course, the most obvious reason for first aid. First aid training gives your staff the confidence and ability to react immediately to an incident, injury or illness. Take CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) for example. It has been reported time and again that many lives have been saved due to fast reaction and CPR aid given during critical and life threatening accidents, injuries or health complications in the workplace.
- It can reduce the number of accidents in the workplace
When staff go through first aid training, they become much more safety aware and can spot hazards and potential incidents before they occur. They’re more alert to their environment and will raise issues with you more quickly when they understand the risks and dangers. This awareness helps reduce the number of accidents that occur in the workplace through diligence and knowledge.
- It gives your employees confidence and clarity during an emergency
First aid training doesn’t just teach your staff how to treat patients in need of first aid, it also gives them confidence and effectively manage an emergency without fear, confusion or overwhelm.
- First aid kits are used properly
Not only will your employees know exactly what should be in the first aid kit and be able to maintain it properly, they’ll be able to use them effectively in an emergency. They will know where to access it quickly – again saving time and reducing the impact of the illness or injury.
- It can reduce recovery time
Rapid reaction to illness or injury, before further aid such as an ambulance arrives can not only save lives, but also reduce recovery time of the patient. If that patient is a member of staff, that means they’ll be back to work quicker, with less impact on the business.
- It can keep your employees safe outside of the workplace
It’s not just in the workplace where good first aid training is paramount – employees will have those skills for life, especially if you maintain ongoing refresher courses. This means they can treat themselves, their family and friends and the general public effectively in an emergency.
- It’s a great team-building exercise
When your staff get the opportunity to learn a skill together, one that will help them look after one another, it brings them closer together. Many teams have reported more awareness of their co-workers well being following first aid training.
