What is First Aid?
First aid is so much more than just a band-aid, and it’s important for every business owner and manager to understand what first aid entails. Why? Because it’s the law.
Here’s just one snippet from the OSHA website that details the importance of first aid in the workplace:
“It is a requirement of OSHA that employees be given a safe and healthy workplace that is reasonably free of occupational hazards. However, it is unrealistic to expect accidents not to happen. Therefore, employers are required to provide medical and first aid personnel and supplies commensurate with the hazards of the workplace.”
Defining First Aid
First aid is emergency medical care that is given immediately on-site where an injury occurs, before full medical care is available. First aid usually doesn’t require a lot of training or technology and is usually a one-time and short-term treatment.
Some examples of first aid include treating minor burns, placing bandages and dressing, administering non-prescription medications, cleaning small cuts, scrapes and scratches, and removing debris from eyes and wounds.
Here are just a few emergencies that can occur in a workplace that would require some kind of first aid supply or training:
- Choking
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Seizures
- Asthma emergencies
- Burns
- Neck, head and spinal injuries
Did you know that the average American full-time employee spends about 50 hours each week working, according to 2017 reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics? That’s 50 hours each week that the above life-threatening injuries could occur in your business, and the risk increases along with the number of hazards present in your workplace.
First Aid Resources
But don’t get overwhelmed – there are plenty of resources out there to help you create a safer working environment for your employees.
The OSHA Website. The OSHA is a great resource for business owners, especially those that are required by law to comply with OSHA standards. The OSHA website also includes helpful guides to basic first aid training and execution.
The National Safety Council. The National Safety Council offers a wide variety of first aid courses, including courses that can be taken online! They can also customize first aid training to your industry.
SITEX First Aid Services. SITEX provides OSHA-compliant first aid kits specialized to a variety of different business types. SITEX regularly checks, monitors and stocks your first aid cabinet, refilling any items that are running low so you have the items you need to deal with a medical emergency. Click here to get a free quote on a SITEX first aid service for your business.
What does first aid look like in your business?
