New employees of a business often go through a lot of training. They are not only trained on the specifics of their job, but also on the company itself. Some types of trainings might include administrative, public relations, public speaking, and leadership training. All of these different types of trainings are thought to expand the employees? job skills and to provide benefit to the company. Perhaps lacking, however, are safety training classes. Every year, American businesses are met with emergencies. Employees who are not trained on handling specific emergencies are unaware of what to do and how to handle the situation.
Weather related trainings
In elementary and high schools, we are taught what to do in the event of a weather related emergency. If it is a tornado, we are led in a single file line to a center or basement point. We are then instructed to put our heads down. Even earthquake drills require moving to a safer location and placing a hard substance over our heads, to protect it from falling debris. As adults, it is likely that employees understand the basics of weather protection. However, it is still helpful to create a drill to ensure that everyone knows where in the building to go.
Fire safety training
Many programs fail to prepare people for fires, especially work settings. Fires are actually more likely to occur in most workplaces, compared to weather related emergencies. This is especially true of businesses such as restaurants that have frequent usage of ovens and stoves. Fire training can be especially helpful in reducing the chances of fire, as well as the damage that a fire can cause. If employees are properly trained in the immediate steps following a fire, they are much more likely to minimize the fire damage.
CPR and other health training
CPR classes are sometimes required of daycare or preschool educational programs. This is because younger children are more likely to require CPR from choking. However, other medical problems can cause choking or cause a person to stop breathing, requiring CPR. Estimates say that 70% of Americans either do not know or have forgotten how to administer CPR. Those who do take CPR classes may take a day class, causing them to quickly forget their lessons.
Instead of single CPR classes, consider requiring or offering CPR licenses to employees. Obtaining a CPR license requires more training hours and the participants are less likely to forget the process. A person?s chance of survival can double or triple if CPR is performed within the first few minutes of cardiac arrest. As a business owner, you will be creating a safer environment, while also giving your employees? a valuable life skill.
Emergency protocol training
Simply having an emergency protocol in place can be helpful in minimizing emergencies. When an emergency occurs, people often panic at first reaction. If they were never trained on the appropriate protocol for handling the emergency, they may handle it in a way that is unsafe and actually causes more damage. Regardless of the type of business you are, it is crucial to have some type of an emergency plan in place. Your employees will appreciate the information and you can rest easy, knowing that they are prepared should something happen.
Emergencies, unfortunately, occur. They come in all types and each require their own actions to handle the situation. While employees are often thoroughly trained on their new job, they are rarely trained on emergency plans. When an emergency does occur, the employees are unaware of what to do, and the actions can actually cause a worse outcome. While you are training your new employees on other important aspects of the job, ensure that emergency training is also a part of it. With more than 300,00 Americans across all age groups dying every year from sudden cardiac death, CPR classes could be one of the most important training’s they receive.
