In India, more than 50% of cardiac arrest patients reach the hospital late, according to available data. Not only this, every second heart attack patient in India is taken to a hospital over 400 minutes late – that’s almost 13 times the ideal window of 30 minutes. As per medical experts, the absence of medical care beyond 18 minutes of a cardiac arrest can cause irreversible damage to the body due to the absence of blood supply.  

Scary, isn’t it? The availability of timely and accessible medical care can save hundreds of lives every minute, but such assistance might not always be available. And it’s not just cardiac arrest but emergencies like accidents, fire, smoke inhalation, or drowning also require immediate medical attention and sometimes waiting for an ambulance or for a doctor to arrive can lead to more harm than good. 

Take the case of road accidents. It is estimated that lakhs of people injured in road accidents in India succumb to their injuries within an hour due to not getting immediate medical attention. The few hours or even seconds after an emergency are crucial for a patient and can impact their chances of survival. To that end, basic life support (BLS) training can be a life-saving skill to combat medical emergencies in corporate environments.  

A BLS training module teaches individuals about how to administer critical life-saving techniques like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to manage a medical emergency and possibly save the life of a patient. Although BLS training cannot replace a paramedical or doctor, it can prevent a person’s health from deteriorating any further. 

What comprises BLS training?  

According to the Red Cross, BLS is typically the kind of care that first responders, healthcare professionals, and safety experts are trained to provide to the patient in a medical emergency like respiratory distress, obstructed airways, or cardiac arrest. The training includes the knowledge and confidence to perform life-saving techniques in patients of every age. 

With the advancement of technology, it is now possible to leverage a wide array of digital tools for training corporate employees in BLS skills. Companies can rope in certified professionals to help their employees learn new skills and be equipped with the knowledge that can potentially save lives.  

How can BLS training benefit a company and their employees? 

A BLS training is a hands-on training and a knowledge session that corporate companies organize for their employees to make them more aware and skilled in dealing with emergency care. With staff trained in emergency medical care, companies can avoid unnecessary panicking during a health emergency while ensuring that a patient gets the required help at the right time. Here are a few ways in which BLS training can help both companies and their workforces thrive: 

1. Help in saving lives 

You never know when someone’s health might fail them. Rather than waiting for help to arrive, an employee trained in BLS skills can help out a colleague and save their life. If a person suffers a cardiac arrest, the next few seconds are a matter of life and death. Hence, a procedure like CPR can keep the person’s blood flowing and organs functioning for the time being.  

2. Curb accidents and medical emergencies through awareness 

Having an entire workforce trained in BLS or even first aid can make a significant impact in reducing workplace accidents. The knowledge about these life-saving techniques makes employees more aware of their safety, which can potentially lead to fewer accidents and injuries. At the same time, safety training and more awareness can motivate employees to take better care of their health.  

3. Increased focus on safety 

As medical emergencies don’t knock on your door before arriving, learning skills like CPR or first-aid can be helpful for corporate employees not only in their workplace but at home as well. You might be at home or out for dinner with friends, your knowledge about basic life support and awareness about medical procedures can save someone’s life. 

4. Shortens recovery time  

If a person gets the required medical attention on time in case of a health emergency, there’s a high chance that their recovery period will also be shorter. For instance, in case an employee suffers a cardiac arrest, a procedure like CPR can not only save their life but also lessen its impact on the body. At the same time, a reduced recovery time can also lead to lower medical costs. 

5. Motivates employees 

If a company invests resources in training its staff in a critical skill like BLS training, it goes on to show how the management is constantly looking out for its workforce. By including BLS training in a company’s safety culture, the management can boost employee morale and ensure the well-being of the employees. As a result, employees are also motivated to put in their best for the company’s growth. 

Conclusion 

India Inc has slowly started to understand the importance of having a workforce trained in BLS skills. In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, more corporates are taking the route to ensure that their employees can work in a healthier environment, and having a BLS-trained staff is a step in the right direction. Not to forget, such initiatives make workspaces more employee-friendly and help boost cohesion between teams.