First Aid Preparedness

It is an unfortunate reality that at some point you will be responsible for assisting during an injury or emergency situation in some capacity while on the job. When injuries occur at work it is important to know and understand some basic guidelines about getting help for an injured co-worker. This safety talk focuses on some key points when comes to first aid situations.

Before Injuries Occur

There are multiple things every worker should be aware of when it comes to providing first aid even if they are not one of the employees directly responsible for responding to injuries. Some key points every worker should be aware of:

• Understand what is expected if you come upon an injured worker.

• Understand what actions you would need to take if you are injured yourself.

• Know who to call and how you can reach them in every type of emergency situation. (Radio/ phone/ voice, etc.)

• Ensure you know a secondary person to contact in case the primary contact is not around.

• Ensure you are able to explain your location when you call for help so assistance is not delayed.

• Know where emergency equipment is located in your work area.

Ensuring You Are Prepared if Injuries Occur

Do not just assume someone else is responsible for responding to an injury and you do not need to understand the points mentioned above. In emergency situations, many things could go bad or unforeseen circumstances can change how assistance is rendered. Giving thought to what you would do in certain situations before they occur is key to being able to adjust when the circumstances do not go as planned.

Some actions to take to ensure you have a plan if you or a coworker is injured:

• Understand the hazards of your work and the injuries that are most likely to occur while completing the work.

• Pay close attention to what is said during safety training relating to emergency preparedness or injury response.

• Read any emergency response information that is posted in your work area.

• When evaluating your work tasks ask yourself what could go wrong and what your response would be in different emergency situations.