Your Workplace Needs BLS Training – Here’s Why

Regardless of the industry you work in, medical emergencies are bound to happen, especially in a larger organization. You might believe that your company doesn’t need to get additional training beyond what might be required by the law, but that’s absolutely not true. It’s important that you protect and support your workers in every way possible, and that includes giving them peace of mind that they’ll be taken care of should the unthinkable happen.

How can you assure your employees that your company is prepared for any possible emergency? BLS certification is one of the best ways to ensure that you’re up to date on all first aid methods and can jump into action no matter what happens. 

Also known as Basic Life Support, this course covers numerous medical emergencies, including heart attacks, choking, strokes, drug overdoses, and broken bones. Your employees will learn how to identify and treat major issues while awaiting medical services; this is essential, as every second counts when someone’s life is on the line. Now that we understand exactly what BLS certification is, let’s explore some of the major reasons why your workforce needs this training, and also how to access such essential knowledge.

Employees may have or develop undisclosed medical issues

When you hired your employees, you were likely required to ask them about any medical conditions they may have so that you could provide reasonable accommodations under the Americans With Disabilities Act. However, if you provided this notification with a job application, some employees may have feared that they would not be hired if they disclosed that they have a medical issue, so these forms are not proof that you have an entirely healthy workforce. 

Furthermore, since employees’ medical information is private even if they use company health insurance, they may have been later diagnosed with a serious condition of which you know nothing. For example, an employee might have been told that they have a heart condition but do not need immediate surgery, though it may put them at risk for heart attacks in the future.

Because you’re essentially “flying blind” with the medical conditions of your workforce, it’s essential that you train your employees to recognize and stabilize anyone suffering an emergency, as it could happen at any time and anywhere.

With the current state of American healthcare, it might be difficult to receive timely assistance

It’s no secret that the US healthcare system is overloaded and understaffed after the Covid-19 pandemic, when many medical professionals left the system entirely. Even in a large city, you might not be guaranteed a fast response from emergency medical services, but this is especially relevant if your workplace is in an isolated or rural area. For example, if you’re in the natural gas industry, your rigs might be far away from the closest town, and it could be 45 minutes before emergency services arrive – by which time it might be too late. It’s best to prepare for any exigencies by ensuring all your staff is equipped to help in an emergency situation.

Lack of planning might open you to lawsuits

While the emotional impact of losing an employee is terrible, the legal blowback may be even worse. If it’s proven that you did not adequately prepare your employees for emergency situations, you may find yourself embroiled in a wrongful death lawsuit. This not only takes precious resources away from the daily operation of your business, but it can be disastrous for your company’s reputation. To prevent this, you absolutely must be able to show that you adequately trained your employees to handle emergency situations and that you provided all possible aid to the injured person. 

How to access BLS certification for your employees

Online BLS certifications through places such as protrainings.com/courses/bls/ makes this type of training quick and easy. These courses allow your employees to work at their own pace and on their own time, using on-demand training materials and a student manual to brush up on their skills. You don’t need to have them take off work in the middle of the day, and as long as you compensate them fairly for the time they have spent working on this outside of the workday, it’s a practical solution that lets employees focus on their normal duties during hours of operation. 

These courses are quite affordable at only $65 a person, but the benefits are priceless, as this allows you to go above and beyond any industry guidelines about emergency preparedness. You can be assured that all your employees will be covered should there ever be an emergency, as they will know that their coworkers will be able to jump in and help no matter what happens. 

BLS certification is one of the best things you can do to improve employee morale, and it’s well worth the cost. Sign your employees up for BLS certification today!