Thousands of employees are killed or suffer serious injuries at work every year. Yet, a staggering 58 percent of employees are unfamiliar with their organization’s health and safety practices, according to a study conducted by international safety barrier manufacturer, A-SAFE.

Review these eight simple first-aid tips with your employees to ensure that your whole team is capable of providing aid to co-workers if necessary:

  1. Unresponsive and not breathing
  • Check breathing by tilting their head backwards and looking and feeling for breaths.
  • Call 911 as soon as possible.
  • Place the victim on his or her back on a flat surface. Make sure the person’s airway is clear.
  • Place the heel of one hand over the center of the chest, and your other hand on top of the first. Using your upper body weight, forcefully push straight down on the chest at a fast pace. Continue compressions until paramedics arrive (unless instructed differently by medical personnel over the phone).
  • If you are well-trained in CPR and feel confident in your abilities, you may alternate two rescue breaths for each set of 30 chest compressions (unless instructed otherwise by medical personnel over the phone).
  1. Unresponsive and breathing
  • Check breathing by tilting their head backwards and looking and feeling for breaths.
  • Move them onto their side and tilt their head back.
  • Call 911, as soon as possible.
  1. Choking
  • Stand behind the choking person and wrap your arms around his or her waist. Bend the person slightly forward.
  • Make a fist with one hand and place it slightly above the person’s navel.
  • Grasp your fist with the other hand and press hard into the abdomen with a quick, upward thrust.
  • Repeat this procedure until the object is expelled from the airway.
  • If you must perform this maneuver on yourself, position your own fist slightly above your navel. Grasp your fist with your other hand and thrust upward into your abdomen until the object is expelled.
  • Call 911, if necessary.
  1. Heavy bleeding
  • Using a clean dry cloth, put pressure on the wound to stop or slow down the flow of blood.
  • Call 911, as soon as possible.
  • Keep pressure on the wound until help arrives.
  1. Burns
  • If the skin is not broken, run cool water over the burn for several minutes.
  • Cover the burn with a sterile bandage or clean cloth.
  • Take an over-the-counter pain reliever to relieve any swelling or pain.
  • Do not place any creams or ice on the burned area.
  • Seek emergency treatment for more serious burns immediately.
  1. Broken bone
  • Have the person support the injury with his or her hand, or use a cushion or items of clothing to prevent unnecessary movement.
  • Call 911, as soon as possible.
  • Continue supporting the injury until help arrives.
  1. Shock
  • Call 911, as soon as possible.
  • Have the victim lie down on his or her back and elevate the feet higher than the head. Keep the victim from moving unnecessarily.
  • Keep the victim warm and comfortable. Loosen tight clothing and cover him or her with a blanket.
  • Do not give the victim anything to drink.
  • If he or she is vomiting or bleeding from the mouth, place the victim on his or her side to prevent choking.
  • Treat any other injuries appropriately.
  • Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if victim is not breathing.
  1. Nosebleed
  • Have the victim sit or stand upright to slow the flow of blood in the nose. Do NOT tip the head back.
  • Gently pinch the nose with your thumb and forefinger for 10 minutes, maintaining pressure. Have the victim breathe through the mouth during this time.
  • Seek medical care if bleeding lasts for more than 20 minutes or if the nosebleed resulted from a broken nose or head trauma.

Reminding employees about the importance of safety and looking out for one another should be a regular practice. Visit our Risk Management Toolbox in the Employer Resources section of our website for more resources to make safety a priority at your organization. If you are interested in formal first aid training for your team, please contact our Safety Director Josh Hancey at jhancey@helpside.com. Keep each other safe.