Dive Brief:
- Many employees aren't trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid, reports Facility Executive (FE), citing results from a recent American Heart Association (AHA) survey.
- The survey also showed that half of the respondents can't locate an automated external defibrillator (AED) in the workplace, says FE, which prompted the AHA to launch a campaign encouraging employers to offer training in first aid, CPR and AED use.
- In other key findings, 33% of safety managers said that First Aid, CPR and AED training has saved lives in the home and at work, and 75% said the training led to injuries or medical conditions being treated at work.
Dive Insight:
AHA's workforce training campaign says there are more than 10,000 cardiac events in the workplace each year, so employees' lack of training is a missed opportunity.
Employers can offer workers CPR and first aid training, along with periodic refresher courses. Or they can offer instruction as part of their wellness programs. Also, they can ensure that employees know where AEDs are and that the locations are highly visible.
If employers need assistance with training, the Red Cross provides on-site programs and the AHA's website now boasts a full course load, including training in both adult and pediatric CPR, AED use and first aid. It also offers blood-borne pathogen training.
