An employee collapses at work.
Someone calls for help. Another reaches for their phone. A colleague asks where the first aid kit is kept.
Then comes the question nobody wants to hear. “Who's our first aider?”
Most workplaces have emergency procedures, designated first aiders and equipment. But how well would those arrangements work during an actual emergency?
Consider a situation where the designated first aider is working in another building, emergency contact numbers are outdated or nobody knows which entrance an ambulance should use.
Small details can create unnecessary delays when urgent assistance is needed.
First aid training equips employees with important response skills, but workplace readiness also depends on accessible equipment, clear communication and defined responsibilities.
Emergency arrangements should account for different shifts, staff leave and changes to the working environment.
One useful exercise is to walk through a realistic scenario. Who would raise the alarm? How would the first aider be contacted? Could emergency services access the correct location quickly?
These questions can help identify gaps before an emergency occurs.
Incon Health provides first aid training and occupational safety services to help organisations strengthen workplace preparedness.
Because when something unexpected happens, employees should already know what to do next.