CPR in the Workplace – the Benefits to Both Employers and Employees

Saving lives isn’t an ability reserved only for those in the medical field. With 10,000 cardiac arrests annually in offices and workplaces in America across all industries, the need for CPR and AED training for workplace employees is critical. 

CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is performed when the heart stops beating. Brain death and tissue death occur shortly after the heart stops and CPR can help to generate blood flow to the brain and other vital organs.  Learning and initiating CPR early can greatly affect the outcome of someone in cardiac arrest.

By performing CPR, you can help maintain blood flow and oxygen to the brain and other vital organs while waiting for EMS to arrive, drastically increasing a person’s chances of survival. And 9 in 10 cardiac arrest victims who receive a shock from an AED in the first minute will live. Yet, according to the American Heart Association, over half of the surveyed employees don’t even know where the AED at their workplace is located, much less how to use it. This is why CPR training in the workplace is essential.

What every employee and staff member should know about CPR

There is this common misconception that the only people who will ever use CPR “on the job” are those in the medical field or first responders. You know, people who PLAN on dealing with emergency situations and are PREPARED to handle them. But emergencies don’t care who is planning on them or who is prepared for them.

Anyone, on any job, at any time, might be in a situation where they are the first responder who needs to handle an emergency. Are you prepared?

What are the basic CPR skills that every workplace employee should have?

• knowledge of how to perform chest compressions correctly (incorrectly administered compressions can be ineffective and even cause further damage)
• How to maintain the proper seal when performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or when using a face mask 
• The correct compression-to-ventilation ratio to maintain necessary oxygen levels and blood flow
• How to perform 2-person-CPR with a partner to prevent exhaustion while waiting for EMS to arrive
• Proper use of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator)
• How to remove an obstruction from an airway

The Benefits to Employers and Employees

65% of employees say they would view their employers more positively if they offer CPR and First Aid training. 

Besides creating a safer environment for your workers and patrons, a trained staff is more likely to be proactive and address potentially harmful and even dangerous situations with confidence in all areas because of the situational awareness training they receive.

​Preventing emergencies is the absolute best way to handle them! The American Heart Association also reports that employees who are provided the opportunity to receive CPR & First Aid training are more satisfied with their employers in general.

One-third of safety managers report that lives have been saved because of CPR training in the workplace. Employers that don’t take the time to make sure their staff has been certified are putting their staff and patrons at unnecessary risk. The cost of certifying your staff is minimal in comparison to the thousands in insurance and hospital bills that a business can incur if there is an emergency in the workplace.