Employers are legally obligated to have first aid provision for all their personnel. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) further recommends first aid provisions are made available where there are more than 25 persons at a workplace, whether they are employees or not, like in the case of schools.
A first aid program should be based on the needs of a workplace, ideally after conducting a thorough hazard identification procedure. The elements of an effective program are:
1. Teaching Methods
The training curriculum should include these basic principles where trainees are:
– Exposed to hands-on training through the use of mannequins and practicing with a
partner
– Exposed to injury and illness settings and the appropriate response
– Equipped with resource materials to reference during and after the training
– Equipped with appropriate first aid supplies and equipment
2. Preparing to Respond to an Emergency Situation
The program should incorporate instructions and/ or discussions on:
– Prevention strategies on reducing injuries, fatalities and illnesses
– Maintaining an updated directory of emergency phone numbers (police, fire department,
etc.) and made available to all employees at all times
– Training for personal protective equipment (PPE)
3. Scene and Victim(s) Assessment
The program should include instructions on:
– Assessment of the scene for number of injured parties, safeness of the scene and the
circumstances surrounding the scene.
– Need for respiratory protection
– Prioritizing care if there are several injured victims
– Ensuring the injured are transported properly, preventing further injuries
4. Response to Life-Threatening Emergencies
The program should be designed adapting to the needs of the workplace and should include the basics of:
– Establishing responsiveness
– Performing CPR
– Using an automated external defibrillators (AED)
– Recognizing shock and performing appropriate first aid
– Controlling of bleeding
– Performing first aid to poison victim(s)
5. Response to Non-Life Threatening Emergencies
The program should include first aid to manage::
– Wounds
– Burns
– Extreme temperatures
– Eye injuries
– Musculoskeletal Injuries
– Bites and stings
– Mouth and teeth injuries
Post-training programs should be implemented as well where the the instructor observes the skill level of the trainee(s) and conducts periodic written evaluation.