When people think of first aid training for the workplace, they often imagine a construction site or other place of employment where the physical risks are high. However, a medical emergency can happen anywhere, and it is important to have trained first aid providers on the scene who are ready to provide care.  

First aid can mean many things depending on the situation: 

• Splinting a broken wrist  

• Stopping a wound from bleeding  

• Performing CPR 

• Mitigating an asthma attack  

• Providing support to a stroke victim 

• Any other situation where another person is in medical distress  

When a medical emergency happens, what matters most isn’t seniority, speed, or even strength, it’s action. In the time before emergency services arrive, the difference between life and death could rest in the hands of the person closest to the scene. That’s why basic first aid training at work shouldn’t be given to just a few select staff. It should be an important part of everyone’s work-readiness.

The more trained individuals present onsite, the more coordinated the response. For example, one person can assess the victim. Another can call 911 and give the information to Emergency Medical Services (EMS). A third can retrieve the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) or first aid kit.