Guide to First Aid Training

No matter what your industry, implementing an in-house first aid training program ensures that your employees are ready to respond in the case of a medical emergency. Proper first aid training can reduce missed work days and may even mean the difference between life and death for your employees. OSHA requires specific types of first aid training for different industry sectors whose employees are at-risk; however, even a small retail store benefits from having employees who are ready to deliver a broad range of first aid when it’s needed.

The best first aid training program ensures that at least two people on duty at any time are trained in first aid, including CPR and AED. Your business benefits in a number of ways when you implement a first aid training programs for your employees.

1. You comply with OSHA standards, if your industry requires first aid training.
2. You increase employees' morale because they see that you care about their safety.
3. Trained staff is ready in the event of medical emergencies, so they can provide emergency help before paramedics arrive.
4. You legally protect yourself and your business by giving employees access to first aid training and first aid certification.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know OSHA's requirements for first aid training

Though OSHA doesn't have first aid training requirements for all industry sectors, any sector that places employees in harm's way generally has OSHA training requirements. Be familiar with these requirements to make sure that your business is in compliance.

I recommend: OSHA posts first aid training requirements for industry sectors and updates them on a regular basis. You can find specific training requirements for general industry; electric power generation, transmission and application; power distribution and commercial diving operations.

Choose solid on-site first aid training classes

Research shows that employees retain the most information from training programs that have a strong hands-on element. The easiest way to deliver hands-on first aid training is to find a training company to come to you. A comprehensive first aid training program incorporating basic first aid, CPR, AED and bloodborne pathogens gives your employees the tools they need to handle the first response to most medical emergencies.

I recommend: OSHA has partnered with The American Red Cross to create first aid, CPR, AED and bloodborne pathogen training classes that can meet businesses’ needs, providing first aid certification to employees. The American Safety and Health Institute provides a combined class to cover basic first aid, as well as CPR and AED. Cintas also offers training programs, including CPR, which is a good idea if you have a Cintas AED on site. Regardless of the first aid training you choose, make sure it offers your employees certification.

Incorporate web-based training

Though hands-on training is a must, especially when it comes to CPR, choosing a blended training method allows your employees to complete some of the training at their own pace and then come together as a group to practice the hands-on techniques. A blended approach can also save you money.

I recommend: The American Red Cross and the International CPR Institute (ICPRI) offer blended learning approaches, combining the best of online and hands-on CPR and first aid training. You can choose from basic first aid, CPR or AED online training. Emergency University also offers custom blended first aid training classes for businesses. With all of these first aid training classes, employees receive their first aid certification after they complete the on-site portion of the training.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Schedule the first aid training so all employees can attend, but don't force them to attend unless it's a requirement of the position. Train during work hours if at all possible so you can ensure the highest number of trained employees.
• Offer incentives to employees if they need to come in for training during their time off.

The official source of First Aid Training is the First Aid Training page at Business.com