First Aid - How To Take Care Of Medical Emergencies In The Workplace
If you have employees, then you must be capable of providing immediate care during emergencies. A first aid ready workplace can be the difference between someone living or dying. Responding quickly can reduce the severity of an injury. For these reasons, you must provide a safe and healthy workplace. Read on to find out how to take of first aid emergencies.
Why You Should Be Concerned About First Aid?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide employees with medical personnel and first aid supplies. These supplies must be equivalent to the type of hazards that would occur in that particular work environment.
Identify Your First Aid Needs
It is important to identify your first aid needs by inspecting your workplace. Certain circumstances affect what you need in terms of first aid. If you work in a low risk environment, then you may only need a first aid kit. On the other hand, employers who work in a high-risk environment may need first aid personnel onsite.
You must identify if any hazards are present, such as chemical, physical, biological and environmental. For example, if your employees have to work on heights, then they are at a significant risk for falls. It is important to prepare for injuries related to your workforce.
Do You Need To Train Employees?
Training is one of the business first aid solutions that prepare employees for medical emergencies. OSHA does not require every employer to train their employees in first aid. It depends on proximity of the nearest hospital. You have to make a decision about whether to provide first aid training. If you want to get training for your business, then you should check with the National Safety Council.
Provide Adequate Supplies
You should have first aid supplies on hand. This means having a ready first aid kit in a location that everyone knows about. You can assemble the kit or buy a ready-made kit. Here are examples of items to include:
- First Aid Manual
- Dressings for wounds
- Gauze pads
- Gauze bandage
- Instant cold compress
- Antiseptic wipe packets
- Nonlatex gloves
- Scissors
- A breathing barrier
- Pain pills
- Cloth tape
Accidents can occur at any time when on the job. This leads to employers getting seriously hurt. It is important to put safety measures in place to prevent your employers from being fatally injured. Not having safety measures can cause your company to lose money. For more information, talk to a professional like First Aid 2000.