Workplace first aid training

Injuries, accidents and illnesses can happen at any time. According to the Health and Safety (First-aid) Regulations 1981, every workplace in the UK is required to make sure their employees have access to first aid equipment (a well-stocked first-aid box) and facilities, along with information about first-aid arrangements and a designated person to set those arrangements in motion if the need arises.

Ensuring that employees know the company has these arrangements in place, and that they would have immediate provision of first-aid if an accident was to occur, should be a fundamental priority for all reputable employers. Workplace first-aid training can include CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), injury prevention, how to control bleeding, treatment for wounds or burns and managing someone who is unconscious, who has had a seizure or is in shock, what to do when someone is choking, has been poisoned or has a broken bone or sprain, how to recognise the symptoms of common medical conditions such as stroke and heart attack, and how to properly record and report incidents.

Having a number of staff trained in first-aid brings a company a benefits, such as:

In the event of a serious incident, a trained first-aider could save the life or lives of those affected by taking immediate action, as they can be on the scene far quicker than the emergency services.
Research shows that workplaces with staff trained in first-aid are safer overall and suffer fewer incidents as all employees become more aware of safety.
Trained employees use the knowledge gained in their training to behave safely, proactively assisting and encouraging others to do the same, which reduces risks and prevents incidents from happening.
In the event of an incident, trained staff may be able to help prevent further injury.
The more staff that are trained in first-aid, the more likely it will be that one of them will be on site in the event of an incident.
Trained first-aiders are already familiar with the company first-aid kit and how to use its contents, which can save time in an emergency.
They are also more likely than un-trained staff to know how to react and behave in an emergency situation, as their training should have given them the ability to confidently and effectively manage it.
Training needn't take long - many courses are complete within a few hours. First-aid training consultancies can tailor their training around a specific workplace, taking into consideration possible risks employees face in their roles so they are adequately informed and can modify their behaviour.

When choosing a First Aid training provider, make sure you look into whether they are qualified to deliver the training and are certified by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH). It can be a good idea to get all health and safety, first aid, fire and food safety training from the same provider so all training is in context for their specific business and the training provider know the goals of the company itself.