The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require businesses to provide adequate and appropriate first-aid equipment, facilities and trained staff so that your employees can be given immediate help if they are injured or taken ill at work.
In most workplaces having people who are skilled in first aid is a legal requirement, but there are lots of benefits too …
1. It Saves Lives
First aid isn’t just about knowing where the plasters are and popping on an ice pack – participants learn essential life saving skills that will help them respond effectively to a time-critical medical emergency, for example: cardiac arrest. Every minute a person is in cardiac arrest without receiving CPR and having a defibrillator used on them, their chance of survival decreases by around 10%. That’s why it’s so important to act immediately. Many workplaces now have their own on site defibrillator, but it’s important that your employees feel confident to use it and that it is maintained safely.
Fast, effective first aid treatment also means that a casualty is likely to recover more quickly. Did you know that nearly 40 million days were lost due to work related ill health and non fatal injuries in 2019/20!
2. Skills for Everyone – Anytime, Anywhere
First aid is needed from factory floor to shop front, from restaurants and building sites to schools and nurseries. Accidents and medical emergencies can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Our participants have used their first aid skills in the workplace, at home, on the high street and even on holiday!
3. A Positive, Safer Work Environment
Employees feel valued when they know that their employer is concerned for their welfare and prepared to take positive action to maintain a safe working environment. It also earns companies a good reputation among customers, investors and the general public for its hands-on approach to corporate responsibility.
4. Less Work Related Ill health & Fewer Workplace Accidents
First aid training gives employees greater risk awareness – to notice and act on issues of safety. That’s more eyes looking out for your business and improving the working environment. In 2019-2020 65,427 workplace injuries were reported under RIDDOR and 111 people were tragically killed at work. Most of these accidents were avoidable. The cost to families and friends who lose loved ones in this way is immeasurable, but workplace accidents cost UK businesses £5.6 billion every year. First aid training is not only the right thing to do, it’s a commercially smart thing to do. If you’re still not sure whether you want to invest in first aid training – ask yourself, can you afford not to?