The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), has advised employees to acquire first aid training in order to manage emergencies in work places.
The National First Aid Trainer of NRCS, Mr Bashir Dan-Illela, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.
“Many workers today are facing greater pressure to meet demands of modern working life such as high expectation on performance.
“Also long working hours, increased competition among employees and pressure to meet targets at work place, are all contributing to the work environment becoming more stressful,’’ he said.
Dan-Illela said that due to the current economic recession, workers were experiencing significant changes and restructuring in various organisations and reduced work opportunities in the country.
He said that this had brought about the fear of losing their jobs and decreased financial stability which could have further severe consequences on their mental health and well-being.
Dan-Illela said the knowledge of first aid management could help reduce the number of health challenges and casualities recorded in work places.
He said that the national occupational safety and health culture was one in which employees and workers at all levels had right to a safe and healthy working environment.
The trainer said that health tips on first aid was very important, as the knowledge acquired would among other things check delayed assistance in emergency situations and to provide a safe working environment.
“We do not have to be doctors or nurses to give first aid or assistance in times of emergencies.
“First aid indeed helps to save lives. We may have the intention to help but without the knowledge of first aid, we may cause more harm to the causality,” he said.
Dan- Illela said that, “the job of the first aider ends when victims are taken to the hospital or any health facility.”
He urged management of organisations and employees to always provide psychological and emotional support to traumatised victims at work places.
Dan-Illela noted that it was important for management to have the health history of its employees, adding that “such could help in addressing an emergency case when it arises”.
He mentioned the need to have insulin for diabetic patients; aspirin tablets in cases of heart attack; inhalers for asthmatic patients; and bandages, among others, in the first aid kit. (NAN)