Anne-Marie Jennings
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 18/98) - Knowledge is a powerful thing. The more a person knows about a particular subject, the more likely that person will be a safe worker.

Which is why first aid and other safety courses offered by St. John Ambulance are not only a good for employees, but also serve to benefit the employer who allows his workers to take the time for courses.

Every hour in Canada, more than $1.5 million is spent on medical expenses incurred by workplace injuries. In 1993, they cost Canadians nearly $10.4 billion -- half of which went to paying accident benefits.

In independent research conducted by St. John Ambulance, the organization found a clear link between first-aid training and reduced personal injuries. The number of work-related injuries are typically reduced by between 20 and 30 per cent.

First aid and occupational health and safety courses also reduce the severity of the injuries incurred by employees during the work day.

But as with any program, not all aspects of the programs will necessarily apply to all businesses, which is why St. John Ambulance has developed several first-aid training modules.

There are two levels of courses -- emergency and standard. While both train employers and employees in procedures for workplace accidents. The length and the material covered in the training session is the main difference.

The emergency course, which generally takes about six and a half hours, covers enough material to give employees confidence to act and manage emergencies. Basic skills taught in the course include how to reduce shock and contain injuries.

The absolute minimum length of an emergency-level course is four and a half hours, and would cover emergency scene management, artificial respiration, choking, bleeding, shock, unconsciousness and fainting, with the option of adding additional training sessions.

In the standard course, employees are provided with more in-depth first-aid training, which can be selected from a wide range of topics. The standard course is 13 hours long and includes the same courses covered in the emergency level. Trainers have the option of adding sessions on burns, poisons, eye injuries, rescue carries, chest injuries, and wound care.

Benefits of providing in-service to employees come both in terms of personnel and economic savings over the long term. The cost of an emergency course is $172. It is designed to ensure all employees know how to react in an emergency and prevent further accidents from occurring.

A small amount to teach the proper techniques or a considerable amount to pay medical expenses. The choice is a matter of dollars and cents.