Don't underestimate the value of first aid training

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Given an impending change to first aid at work regulations, Joe Mulligan, the British Red Cross head of first aid education, argues that life-saving skills in the workplace are more important than ever.

The times are indeed a-changin’. Traditionally, any organisation wanting to provide first aid training in workplaces has had to first get approval from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

But it now looks likely that, in October, the government will rubber-stamp a new law that means employers will be free to choose any company to provide first aid training to their employees.

In our opinion, this impending absence of a governing body raises several concerns. Will training standards fall? Can employers really be expected to monitor the effectiveness of the training companies they hire? And, will the trained employees possess the knowledge and skills to respond when faced with first aid emergencies?

Life-savers

But more than this, there’s a real danger the move might devalue the very notion of first aid training in the public consciousness. And that would be very bad news indeed.

Let’s start with the obvious point. First aid training really does save lives. At the British Red Cross, we don’t just show people how to deal with basic accidents – we also teach them how to respond to medical emergencies. This may range from a minor grazes and cuts, all the way to a cardiac arrest.

Over the past 30 years, we have worked hard to build a trusting relationship with the companies we train. People enjoy our courses, and leave them confident in their first aid abilities. In fact, our research shows that 73 per cent of participants on our courses, go on to use their skills to help someone within a year of receiving Red Cross training.

By law, all workplaces in this country need to have someone in charge of first aid arrangements. The exact level of cover and the training course the employers need is currently determined by HSE guidelines. Failure to comply with these guidelines, or a disregard for the safety of your staff could result in substantial fines or even prosecution.

Threats

But it isn’t only the threat of prosecution that affects employers. Along with all the punitive, financial and reputational risks that entails, accidents or sudden illness will also affect businesses and staff.

Investing in the capability to help mitigate the worst through first aid can send a powerful message to staff – that their welfare is important to the employer, and not just a matter of legal compliance.

Employees perceive their employer in a positive light when they provide adequate first aid provision. They feel valued and cared for.

We also know that employees who become first aiders gain confidence and a greater sense of community. Results from the British Red Cross’ survey last year, shows that the ability to help others is not the only benefit of picking up some first aid skills – it can improve mental health too.

And creating a happy and healthy workforce is one of the best ways to maintain businesses productivity.

Finances

We can also talk numbers to illustrate the value of first aid at the workplace. According to data we have, if proper and prompt first aid action is taken to address accidents such as burns in the catering industry, time away from work could be reduced by up to 30 per cent.

We know that round 13,000 people die each year from accidents that occur in everyday situations. In fact, between 2010 and 2011, 175 people suffered a fatal injury while carrying out their day to day work, with a further 200,000 picking up an injury that led to them taking more than three days off to recover.

But we have positive stories as well. I could recount scores of incidents where ordinary workers, precisely because they knew what to do in an emergency, got stuck in and saved a life. They kept the heart going, stemmed the otherwise fatal wound, put the unconscious person on their side so they didn’t suffocate.

And remember: these aren’t just stories and statistics; we’re talking about real people – mothers, fathers, spouses, loved ones – who are all walking about today because somebody knew first aid.

First aiders are thus a key and initial point in the line of treatment for workers who suffer from a sudden illness or accident at work.

Nearly three quarters of workplace trained first aiders have been required to use their skills in a real life situation within a year of training. This is one of the findings uncovered in a survey on attitudes towards first aid at work by the British Red Cross last year. Not only may you need to use your skills on a colleague but also on a loved one, a friend or a neighbour.

Safe country

The biggest concern in the occupation health circles about the new laws have rightfully been around the potential drops in the standards of first aid training. The other possible unintended consequences of these legislative changes arise from the misconception that fewer accidents are happening at work places. This is not so and it’s absolutely vital that people don’t start to view first aid as somehow being less important.

Thankfully, the majority (86 per cent) of businesses we work with have said that, even if first aid wasn’t a regulatory requirement they would still continue to train their staff. This is a positive statement which emphasises how first aid training is still relevant, and its benefits and cost-saving potential are still well worth the financial investment.

While we are supportive of companies being able to tailor the training to fit their business type, we also note that there are differing needs depending on the kind of business and the kind of potential hazards employees may encounter.

This is why we would like to see the new regulations made more straight-forward and proportionate to the needs of businesses.

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