The Importance of First Aid in the Workplace

With an estimated six million working days being lost in the UK each year due to work related injuries, employers should be looking at increasing the amount of first aid provision and knowledge amongst their employees.

It is estimated that around six million working days are lost in the UK each year through work related reportable injuries. As such, the cost of this to UK companies is in the region of £5-8 billion in lost working time.[1] Amazingly, these figures do not even include the number of people who are taken seriously ill at work through cardiac arrests, asthma attacks and other non-work related illnesses such as epileptic fits etc.

Home First Aid Kit

Although the provision of first aid equipment within the workplace is a legal requirement in the UK, there is no mandatory list of contents to be contained within First Aid Kits . Quite strangely, there is also no mandatory requirement for there to be a trained first aid practitioner in the workplace either. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) do however, provide guidelines to businesses and employers regarding standard items that should be included within their first aid provision and they do offer suggestions as to the level and amount of trained first aid personnel based upon the size of the workforce and associated risks involved.

According to the British Red Cross, the number of reportable injuries and amount of lost working time could be reduced by employers if they were to increase the knowledge of first aid and first aid procedures amongst their employees. Employers could increase the level of first aid and basic life support skills amongst their staff by arranging for them to participate in first aid at work training courses, or perhaps even by just providing employees with first aid manuals or Procedure Packs which they can read and refer back to.

As they say, knowledge is power and the knowledge of basic first aid can make the difference between life and death. Knowing how to react and how to treat injuries can play a vital role in preventing an injury or illness from becoming fatal in and out of the workplace. Having first aid skills is obviously the primary requirement but having access to the correct first aid kit is also important. First aid kits contain various product mixes and first aid administrators need to understand the uses of the various components.

The UK's leading online supplier of first aid equipment, First Aid Warehouse supply a varied range of high quality, specialised first aid kits and first aid and medical consumables such as bandages, dressings, gloves and resuscitation aids. First Aid Warehouse also stock a selection of up-to-date first aid guidance manuals and books which make ideal companions for first aid kits and company first aid personnel.

Shopping online with First Aid Warehouse is a simple and secure method of purchasing essential first aid products, diagnostic equipment and other Medical Equipment that is delivered direct to the door. The highest quality at the lowest prices are offered to the general public, private companies and medical professionals alike.

The Importance of First Aid in the Workplace