The Importance Of First Aid In The Workplace

estimated six million working days being lost in the UKincrease the level of first aid and basic life support skills
each year due to work related injuries, employersamongst their staff by arranging for them to
should be looking at increasing the amount of first aidparticipate in first aid at work training courses, or
provision and knowledge amongst their employees.perhaps even by just providing employees with first
It is estimated that around six million working days areaid manuals or Procedure Packs which they can read
lost in the UK each year through work relatedand refer back to.
reportable injuries. As such, the cost of this to UKAs they say, knowledge is power and the knowledge
companies is in the region of £5-8 billion in lostof basic first aid can make the difference between life
working time.[1] Amazingly, these figures do not evenand death. Knowing how to react and how to treat
include the number of people who are taken seriously illinjuries can play a vital role in preventing an injury or
at work through cardiac arrests, asthma attacks andillness from becoming fatal in and out of the workplace.
other non-work related illnesses such as epileptic fitsHaving first aid skills is obviously the primary
etc.requirement but having access to the correct first aid
Although the provision of first aid equipment within thekit is also important. First aid kits contain various
workplace is a legal requirement in the UK, there is noproduct mixes and first aid administrators need to
mandatory list of contents to be contained within Firstunderstand the uses of the various components.
Aid Kits . Quite strangely, there is also no mandatoryThe UK’s leading online supplier of first aid
requirement for there to be a trained first aidequipment, First Aid Warehouse supply a varied range
practitioner in the workplace either. The Health &of high quality, specialised first aid kits and first aid and
Safety Executive (HSE) do however, providemedical consumables such as bandages, dressings,
guidelines to businesses and employers regardinggloves and resuscitation aids. First Aid Warehouse also
standard items that should be included within their firststock a selection of up-to-date first aid guidance
aid provision and they do offer suggestions as to themanuals and books which make ideal companions for
level and amount of trained first aid personnel basedfirst aid kits and company first aid personnel.
upon the size of the workforce and associated risksShopping online with First Aid Warehouse is a simple
involved.and secure method of purchasing essential first aid
According to the British Red Cross, the number ofproducts, diagnostic equipment and other Medical
reportable injuries and amount of lost working timeEquipment that is delivered direct to the door. The
could be reduced by employers if they were tohighest quality at the lowest prices are offered to the
increase the knowledge of first aid and first aidgeneral public, private companies and medical
procedures amongst their employees. Employers couldprofessionals alike.