Every year, several cardiac arrests occur in workplaces around the world. Often, the immediate reaction of those nearby becomes crucial to survival.
Yet, despite its importance, CPR training is not always a standard part of professional spaces’ safety programs. This knowledge gap can make many manageable emergencies result in undesirable consequences.
We hope this blog post will be more than just an informative read. Our goal is to make it a call to action. We advocate for comprehensive CPR training in every office setting.
Let’s see why having staff teams proficient in CPR (we call such teams Heartstrong Heroes) is a best practice for creating a heart-safe office environment.
CPR, or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, is a life-saving technique crucial in emergencies, particularly during sudden cardiac arrest. When someone’s heart stops beating, CPR acts as a manual pump to maintain a flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and other vital organs – essentially buying time until professional medical help arrives.
The process involves chest compressions, performed by pushing down firmly and rhythmically on the victim’s chest, ideally at 100 to 120 compressions per minute. This action helps the heart circulate blood.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), time is of the essence in a cardiac emergency. The chances of survival decrease by approximately 10% with every minute that passes without CPR. This statistic underscores the importance of immediate action. When CPR is initiated within the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, it can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival.
The legal obligations regarding emergency training at employment sites, including CPR, vary significantly from one country to another.
In some countries or states, specific laws mandate that certain types of workplaces, especially those in high-risk industries or with a large number of employees, provide CPR and first aid training to their staff.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in the United States, they strictly recommend that businesses have trained first-aid providers based on the hazards present in the work setting. However, this is not a legal requirement for all employers.
In other countries, the law might be less specific, offering guidelines or advisories rather than strict mandates.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), beyond legal obligations, all employers have an ethical duty to foster a safe working ethos. This includes preparing for medical emergencies and providing CPR training, indicating that employers value their staff’s health and safety.
According to US CPR Online, there can be several benefits to both employers and employees from giving CPR due importance in vocational areas:
In addition to the direct benefit of potentially saving lives, CPR training in working locations can significantly enhance overall safety awareness among employees. This training can include education on recognizing signs of a cardiac emergency, leading to earlier intervention and possibly even preventing some incidents. Employees become more attuned to the health and well-being of their colleagues, fostering a culture where risks are better identified and addressed proactively.
CPR training can empower employees with the confidence to act decisively and effectively in a medical crisis. Knowing the steps to take when faced with a life-threatening situation prepares employees to help others and gives them a sense of personal security. This confidence can extend beyond the workplace, as employees carry these valuable skills into their communities and homes.
Offering CPR training at business locations can reflect well on a company’s image, showcasing a commitment to employee welfare and corporate responsibility. It can send a strong message to employees, clients, and competitors that the company values human life and is prepared to invest in its people’s safety. This can positively affect employee satisfaction and retention and even attract new talent seeking a workplace that prioritizes staff well-being.
CPR training can also help build a more supportive and cohesive community within the workforce. When employees undergo training together, they learn to coordinate and rely on each other in high-pressure situations. This camaraderie and sense of team responsibility can be sustained beyond emergencies, fostering a workstyle of mutual support and collaboration.
Comprehensive CPR and emergency response preparation help reduce group panic and confusion in a dire situation. Employees trained in CPR are more likely to remain composed and focused, understanding their role in the critical first minutes of a medical emergency. This composure can be infectious, helping to maintain calm among other employees and allowing for a more organized and effective response to the crisis.
According to Mackenzie Thompson et al., writing in National Health Care Provider Solutions (NHCPS), implementing a company-sponsored CPR training program is worthwhile if it is well structured.
Here are three main steps (with sub-steps under each) that businesses could follow to set up CPR training at their offices:
Employers can further promote a heart-protective protocol by advising personnel that if they have a combination of ailments such as obesity, cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension – along with other hereditary factors – these can all have a multiplicative impact on the heart.
Employers could encourage their people to get regular medical checkups (if possible, at company expense) to monitor high blood pressure symptoms, check cholesterol levels, review medications for high blood sugar signs, or get advice for obesity management regimens.
Most working people spend a lot of their time at their occupational establishments. Implementing CPR training at such places is vital to creating a heart-safe environment.
Employers can significantly fulfill their obligations to their teams by taking the initiative to prioritize their employees’ health. Top management can set their organizations’ health and safety standards by ensuring that all employees are encouraged (or even incentivized) to take first-aid and CPR training. They need to reinforce the message to every worker: Be CPR-aware. Save lives. Be a Heartstrong Hero.
