Many companies, organisations, and enterprises have training costs built into their budgets but they don’t all include essential first aid training courses.
Whilst it is important to receive training on job-related topics, there often are extra subjects where training always will have value. One such subject is first aid. Almost every employee can benefit from first aid at work courses that offer skills that are immediately usable.
There are many training providers who can offer you a great first aid training course in your workplace. All courses should result in nationally recognised certificates and be conducted by professionals who are meticulously trained, and who have years of experience in both delivering emergency first aid and in teaching the requisite skills
There is a wide variety of first aid at work training courses, many with add on modules. A typical core syllabus for first aid at work courses include modules like communications, casualty management (including assessment and recording), and medical conditions.
FAW Training: CPR & AED Training
Participants learn to do CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), and AED training is included as well. AED stands for automated external defibrillator, which is a portable device that’s used to treat sudden cardiac arrest by sending an electric shock to the heart to restore normal rhythm.
Another topic covered is shock and its various types, including anaphylactic, septic, psychogenic, and cardiogenic.
Instructors will guide you through gaining additional critical skills, including bleeding and wound management. Emergencies related to orthopaedic trauma should be taught, too together with environmental related disorders.
Many first aid at work courses have additional modules such as family and personal preparedness. Topics include, emergency tools, food stores, backup plans, out of area contact, vital personal documentation, gathering place, and use of smart phones in an emergency.
There are also modules to help you manage people with special needs.
First aid at work courses are a great way for employers to enhance their employees’ life skills.
If you don’t ensure that selected employees have undergone essential first aid training at work, then you could face penalties through a breach of the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. Enforcement action could include issuing notices or prosecuting if the circumstances warrant it.
You should therefore ensure that you have processes in place to help qualified first aiders to maintain their basic skills and keep up to date with any changes in first aid procedures.
When assessing specific business needs, you need to consider:
1 Workplace hazards and risks
2 The size of the organisation
3 The organisation’s history of accidents
4 The nature and distribution of the workforce
5 The remoteness of the site from emergency medical services
6 The needs of travelling, remote and lone workers
7 Employees working on shared or multi-occupied sites
8 Annual leave and other absences of first aiders and appointed persons.
FAW Training: The HSE can provide updated guidance for employers on how many First Aiders will be required depending on the size and nature of your organisation.
The level of first aid training at work required is dependent on a number of factors but mainly on the number of employees and the nature of your business.