First responders: Eight double lessons that can save lives

Sometimes things happen very quickly: A fall from a ladder results in a broken leg, or carelessness with a saw causes a severe cut on the hand. To ensure that the injured person can be treated at the scene of the accident, many skilled trades companies are required to provide on-site first aid training. This is stipulated in the accident prevention regulation "Principles of Prevention."

"For companies with two to 20 employees, at least one first aider must be present," explains Joachim Berger. The head of the First Aid and Personal Protective Equipment department at the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) recommends that smaller companies, in particular, provide training beyond this minimum requirement, as the need is greater. "After all, the only first aider might also go on vacation or become ill themselves." In companies with 20 or more employees, there are fixed quotas for first aiders, depending on the industry and company size.

Treatment of typical injuries

Training to become a workplace first aider begins with a basic course. This course must be taken at an institution authorized by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) . This can be an aid organization such as the German Red Cross, or a private provider. The course , consisting of eight double sessions, covers the treatment of typical injuries. The curriculum includes, for example, how to treat a bleeding wound with bandages, and how to use an automated external defibrillator ( AED ) in cases of ventricular fibrillation.

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Course costs are covered by the BG

To remain a qualified first aider, knowledge must be regularly refreshed and deepened. This occurs every two years as part of a first aid training course. It consists of four double lessons and should be tailored to the specific professional situation as much as possible. "Electricians can experience cardiovascular problems or burns from exposure to electrical current, while carpenters are more likely to injure themselves while working with a saw," explains Berger. Finding a suitable provider, however, requires a bit of time and researching the list of authorized bodies.

The course fees for basic training and training are covered by the responsible trade association (BG). The employer shall cover any travel expenses incurred and – if the course is taken during working hours – the continued payment of wages. If the first aiders are trained, the rest of the workforce must also be aware of this. The names of the company's in-house first aid experts can be published, for example, on a poster designed by the DGUV. Poster which is then displayed as centrally as possible in the company.

Better to motivate than to threaten with paragraphs

"Not only the boss has to organize first aid measures, but the employees also have to support him," explains Joachim Berger. Unless there are serious reasons not to, employees are required to attend a first aid training course. Instead of threatening employees with the provisions of the accident prevention regulations, Berger recommends providing positive incentives. After all, the acquired knowledge could also be useful in an emergency within one's own family.

First responders can save lives. But not everyone wants to take on this responsibility. A frequently heard argument is: I'm sure I'll fail in an emergency and could then be punished for it. "Many people believe that prosecutors spend all day putting people behind bars for making mistakes when providing first aid," says Joachim Berger. The opposite is true, however. Only those who look the other way during an accident or act intentionally wrongly can be prosecuted. Even if the helper overlooks an injury or aggravates it through their intervention, they are fully protected by the law. Berger's motto: "The only mistake a helper can make is not helping."