Workplace Violence and Importance of First Aid Training
Workplace violence can happen at any official/commercial place, whether it’s a small business or a large corporation. In fact, as per OSHA there were 5,333 fatal workplace injuries in the U.S in 2019 alone and out of which 761 were reported as intentional acts of violence.
Therefore, it’s important to know what to do in the event of violence so that you and your colleagues can survive and get to safety as soon as possible.
This blog post will discuss workplace violence and how to deal with it. We’ll also talk about the importance of first aid training for employees as their colleagues or themselves can get injured in a workplace violence incident.
What is Workplace violence?
Workplace violence is a serious issue that affects millions of people every year. It can be tough to identify and report, as it can often be subtle. That’s why it’s important to know what workplace violence is and what steps you can take to protect yourself.
Workplace violence can take many forms, from threats and intimidation to physical assaults that may even result in loss of lives or end of careers. Furthermore, it can be done by anyone including employees, customers, or outsiders. If you’re ever in a situation where workplace violence occurs, don’t hesitate to get help. Whether you’re the one being assaulted or the one who is trying to stop it, there are useful steps you can take to stay safe and protect yourself.
If you’re ever in a situation where workplace violence occurs, don’t hesitate to get help. Whether you’re the one being assaulted or the one who is trying to stop it, there are useful steps you can take to stay safe and protect yourself.
How to deal with workplace violence?
Violence at work is a problem that is unfortunately on the rise and is considered the fastest-growing murder category in the U.S. alone. If you’re ever in a situation where violence is occurring on a scale of life endangerment, like having an active shooter or enraged person out for blood, here are some tips for dealing with it:
- Your ultimate priority should be to get to safety. Try to get away from the situation as quickly as possible and inside a room that you can lock and barricade. Also, stay away from windows and contact law enforcement.
- If you can’t do that or are stuck in an open area, keep your eyes open and try to remember the following: remain silent, avoid reacting, comply with the assaulter and stay calm. You need to ensure they don’t end up hurting you and buy as much time as you can until the authorities like police, ATF, or FBI arrive.
- If a coworker is injured or if you are injured, you’ll need first aid to ensure you can make it through this terrifying experience alive. For this, we recommend getting first aid training to know what you’re doing.
Steps to take if someone’s injured:
If you find yourself in a dangerous or life-threatening situation at work, take the following
- Grab the first aid kit, which might be found in areas like bathrooms, kitchens, doorways, hallways, or stairs. The injuries could range from minor injuries such as cuts and bruises to more serious issues like head trauma or broken bones, so make sure to find first aid items accordingly.
- Apply steady pressure to any bleeding wounds – this will stop the blood from flowing out of the body.
- Check for broken bones – if there are any, immobilize them as necessary using adhesive bandages or splints until professional medical aid arrives.
- Remain calm and reassuring while waiting for help to arrive; keep your victim still at all costs until it does so safely!
Remember, if you’re not a trained first aid provider, then only do these things if there is no option available, and the person could die if not provided with immediate help.
Importance of First Aid Training for the Injured in the Case of Workplace Violence
Workplace violence can be a frightening experience for anyone, no matter their experience or skills. If you’re ever a victim of violence, don’t hesitate to seek help. First Aid training is key in ensuring that you or the other staff receive the care needed and protection from further harm.
That said, every employer needs to have their employees receive workplace training because if not, they won’t only lose money but valuable lives with decreased productivity.
Furthermore, be sure to have those employees receive comprehensive first aid and CPR training who deal with money like salespeople, drivers, cashiers, etc., and those offering protective services like guards and watchmen as they’re frequently attacked; 19% and 20% respectively.
Is It Necessary to Get First Aid Training for Active Shooter at your Workplace in Texas?
Workplace violence is a serious issue that affects 2 million people per year worldwide. Every few weeks, there are reports of violence in the workplace, and it’s becoming increasingly common to see active shooter situations. The recent Uvalde school shooting with 19 children and 2 adults dead is the biggest and most tragic example of how much needed first aid training is for workplaces.
Employees should undergo First Aid training from schools to retail sectors and public areas to ensure they can save lives in extreme cases of workplace violence. This is why Texas CPR Training offers in-depth first aid training to ensure no lives are lost due to workplace violence incidents.
Source: FBI
Although this image represents the approach of a worker trained to fight back against the assaulter, we can also think of it in terms of providing a first aid response as well. Here, ‘prepare’ would mean finding the first aid box, and ‘commit to act’ means providing required first aid help.
The security institutes are doing their best to prevent and control such horrible incidents, but the civilians also have to play their part in ensuring the safety of the people around them. Getting proper first aid and CPR training can help them provide immediate help to those who need it. This way, they can help without wasting time waiting for emergency responders to arrive, which could even take hours if there’s a hostage situation.
Parting Words:
Workplace violence can happen to anyone at any workplace. If you are ever a victim of this horrible situation, you must know how to handle things. Be sure to hide in a safe place, inform the authorities, and assess the situation. If there are any injured people, put your first aid training to use and ensure no lives are lost.
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