If there is an injury or medical emergency in your workplace, will someone be able to respond promptly? The more employees know first aid, the more likely the response to an incident will be fast enough to save a life, reduce the severity of an injury and promote speedy recovery.
OSHA regulations require employers to have some employees certified in first aid. However, it makes good business sense to exceed the legislative requirements by giving all employees the ability to get basic first aid training. The obvious advantage is that it ensures people can respond properly if an incident occurs. If only one person in the office or the shift can apply CPR or first aid, what happens in an emergency when that worker is not available?
Another benefit is that employees become more safety conscious. Research shows that workplaces where all employees know first aid have a lower incidence of injuries. This may be because they become more aware of injury-causing situations.
Moreover, critical lifesaving skills and awareness transfer off the job. From the employer's perspective, it should not matter where the emergency occurs. When a family member suffers a fall or heart attack at home, a worker's attendance and performance can be affected.