Operating within the modern workplace with ever evolving technology and burgeoning infrastructure means that the unpredictability of an emergency scenario occurring is more pressing than ever. This being the case, having the ability to effectively respond to a medical emergency is truly a core component of adhering to best employee and legal compliance practices in the workplace.
The following article will outline how EMCARE, which is a fire safety and first aid training course provider, can equip you with the correct training and accreditation to be fully safe and legally compliant in whichever industry you operate in. Here, we will detail the various levels of certification which are available as well as the essential skills needed for a professional first aid course.
Why First Aid Courses Are Essential For Professional Environments
Medical emergencies are highly unpredictable; in an ideal world, we would be able to anticipate them, but the truth of the matter is that what makes them an emergency is precisely the fact that they happen unexpectedly. As such, having mental preparedness in the face of an emergency is vital to counteract such an event.
South African law mandates that, as stated by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, we should, as employers, be providing safe working environments for our employees, and this includes ensuring that enough trained individuals are always on-site.
Investing in a first aid course is the first essential step towards meeting the legal mandates of safety. However, training is more than just paperwork. When an employee is empowered to intervene in a medical emergency, they are given vital skills in knowing how to best tackle a critical window of care, which can spell the difference between recovery of travesty.
Since 1997, EMCARE has been providing high-quality, accredited training across South Africa, making sure that safety and legal compliance in the workplace is not just a nice-to-have, but a guarantee.
It is important to note that when a company enrols its staff in first aid courses, what is taught needs to be specifically tailored to the specific perceived risks of that industry.
Consequently, not every environment is going to require the same level of medical expertise. An example of this might be a slow work environment, like a luxury spa or a clothing outlet, where the level of intervention would predictably not need to be too extensive. Contrastingly, in an industry like construction or mining, the risk and injury potential is far higher, and thus, more advanced trauma management is highly advisable.
At EMCARE, we provide this tiered approach to all our first aid courses so that whatever your organisation or workplace requires, we will be able to provide training precisely aligning with your unique needs. As such, we are able to allocate resources effectively and provide the highest possible standard of care without overcomplicated risk preparation for environments which do not require such in-depth training.
The Foundational Programme: First Aid Level One Course
Our level 1 first aid course is designed chiefly as a foundational course to assist individuals who do not have prior medical experience but need to prepare themselves for preventable and common workplace incidents.
Over the two-day duration of the course, participants will be introduced to key principles of emergency care. This includes the three Ps, namely: Preserve life, Prevent further injury and Promote recovery. Other basic factors which are included in this foundational course include direction on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), assisting choking victims and the treatment of superficial wounds and burns.
Completing this course is one of the most common requirements mandated by the South African Department of Labour to ensure a basic understanding of health and safety interventions in the face of an emergency.
Step Up: First Aid Level Two Course
For people who are operating in work environments which are a bit more complex or hazardous than what is required for level one competency, our level 2 first aid course is the top contender. This is a three-day programme and aims to build upon the foundations laid by level 1 by introducing more complex scenarios like joint injuries, general injury management and possible environmental hazards.
In this course, you will be equipped to handle paediatric patients, manage certain conditions like epilepsy, diabetes and toxic/poisonings. This intermediate first aid training course is an essential and recommended course for supervisors and senior team leaders who are required to provide a higher standard of care before professional medical personnel can arrive on site.
Advanced First Aid: Level Three
Our Level 3 course includes advanced first aid training. This is a four-day-long intensive training programme which is deliberately designed for high-risk industries which work from remote locations. Here, emergency medical services may take longer to respond, and thus being able to intervene timeously to stabilise the patient can easily be the difference between life and death.
Level 3 first aid course students will have the opportunity to learn about advanced topics like emergency childbirth and administering oxygen. Once completing this course, individuals will be equipped with the confidence to operate safely in high-pressure, emergency situations and administer the necessary life-saving interventions.
Gaining Accreditation With EMCARE’S First Aid Courses
Our first aid courses offered are fully accredited by the relevant local South African authorities, including the Department of Employment and Labour, the Department of Mineral Resources and the Health and Welfare SETA.
Added to this, the successful completion of the certificate means that the accreditation is valid for 3 years and nationally recognised. Each instructor is an experienced professional with a Level 6 Intermediate Life Support Paramedic or even higher. This ensures that you are trained by the most qualified individuals who have spent thousands of hours on the frontlines perfecting their emergency protocols.
Enrolling in a first aid training course with EMCARE is your first step to ensuring that your workplace is prepared in the event of an emergency. From the most rudimentary fundamentals to the most senior level intervention techniques, choosing the right first aid course can be the most powerful asset that any organisation and group leader can possess.
