When Disaster Strikes Co-workers, Will You Know How to Help? (ARA) – Cardiac arrest, accidents and injuries will strike millions of American workers this year, according to government statistics. When one of your co-workers collapses in the cubicle next to you, will you know what to do to help? Does someone in your office know CPR or how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED)?
No matter how large or small your company, the employees, managers and owners can all benefit from having a pro-active workplace safety plan in place, with employees trained in critical life-saving skills. Your ability to quickly respond to an emergency may immediately save a co-worker’s life in case of serious accident or illness, and help prevent less serious problems from developing into something worse.
The American Heart Association recommends every workplace have a safety plan that includes three elements -- plan, practice and prevent:
Plan -- Create a safety plan for workplace illness or injury and identify employees who will act as first responders in case of emergency. The plan helps ensure everyone will know what to do if an emergency occurs.
Practice -- The proper response to an emergency also requires practice. Your response team should routinely practice together, especially if you have emergency response equipment like AEDs on hand. Practice will help make everyone comfortable with the equipment, work together as a team and be as prepared as possible.
Prevent -- By responding to injuries quickly and effectively, you can help prevent them from developing into more serious conditions. Some injuries or illnesses that start out as minor problems can quickly develop into life-threatening situations if not treated immediately.
Remember to have a plan for taking care of the emotional well-being of employees who act as first responders, regardless of the outcome. Carolyn Trokan, a member of the employee emergency team at Trans-International LLC in Menomonee Falls, Wisc., remembers the emotional turmoil she experienced after helping revive a co-worker who suffered cardiac arrest on the job.
“I did a lot of crying for a month after,” Trokan says. “I felt extreme gratitude for being able to make a difference -- and very humbled.” It’s common for rescuers to experience troubled sleep, flashbacks to the event, and a host of confused emotions. Adrenaline and its effects can last for several days after a rescue.
The training Trokan and her co-workers received in an American Heart Association-administered course helped them save a life. The association is a resource for companies that want to create a safety plan in their own workplaces, and the organization’s training addresses the stress rescuers may feel after an incident. The AED Implementation Guide is just one tool offered by the American Heart Association to help direct companies in establishing a workplace safety program.
To download a free copy of the guide, or for more information about how the American Heart Association can help you establish a workplace emergency plan, visit www.americanheart.org/workplacesafety or call (877) AHA-4CPR.
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