CRISIS DOESN’T WAIT, IS YOUR BUSINESS READY?

Every business has fire extinguishers. Most have security systems. Many have evacuation plans, but how many companies are truly prepared for a medical emergency? It’s a question every employer should ask themselves, because medical emergencies don’t discriminate between office workers, factory employees, warehouse staff, drivers, technicians or executives. They can happen to anyone, at any time, and often without warning.

A heart attack in the boardroom, a stroke in the reception area, an employee collapsing from a diabetic attack, a seizure on the factory floor, a fall from height, a hand caught in machinery, of a crush injury involving heavy equipment. The reality is that every workplace carries some level of medical risk, and the consequences of not being prepared can be devastating. Many employers assume that if an incident happens at work, it will automatically be covered under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA), commonly referred to as Workman’s Compensation.

Unfortunately, in reality, that is not the case. COIDA is designed to compensate employees for occupational injuries and diseases arising out of and in the course of their work. However, not every medical emergency occurring in the workplace falls into that category, actually most don’t. A heart attack, a diabetic collapse, an epileptic seizure or other sudden medical conditions may require immediate emergency treatment regardless of whether they are covered by COIDA.

If the member is not on medical aid and the incident is not covered by COIDA, the medical emergency isn’t going to wait while someone decides who is going to pay. This is where many businesses find themselves unprepared, is your company prepared? Ask yourself these questions:

■ Is your business fully compliant with COIDA requirements?

■ Do your managers understand what to do when an employee suffers a serious medical emergency?

■ Do you have a documented Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for medical emergencies? ■ Are supervisors trained to recognise life- or limb- threatening emergencies and activate the correct response immediately?

■ Do employees know who to call and what information to provide?

■ Is there someone trained in First Aid available during every shift?

■ Does your emergency plan cover both office staff and employees working with dangerous machinery or hazardous environments?

When a medical emergency occurs, panic often becomes the biggest obstacle. Most people have never witnessed a colleague collapse. They freeze and assume someone else will handle it, they will argue about whether an ambulance is really necessary, or waste precious time trying to find a manager to make a decision. Others attempt to transport the injured employee themselves, which can place both the patient and others at great risk. Those first few minutes are often the most critical as to the eventual outcome. The difference between a good outcome and a tragedy can simply be how quickly the incident is recognised as an emergency, how effectively the incident is managed, and how rapidly professional medical assistance is dispatched.

Preparation Saves Time, Time Saves Lives

Businesses should also consider having some form of emergency medical cover in place for their employees while they are at work. Whether an incident is covered by COIDA or not, immediate access to emergency medical care remains the priority. Employers have a legal duty to provide a safe working environment, but there is also a moral responsibility to protect the people who make their business successful. Your employees are not simply part of the workforce; they are your greatest asset.

One way businesses can strengthen their emergency preparedness is by implementing a workplace emergency medical solution. Mobi Ventures offers the Mobi-AmboPLAN, a workplace emergency medical solution designed to ensure employees receive rapid access to private ambulance service during any life- or limb-threatening emergency while at work. Supported nationally by ER24, the service is coordinated through the Mobi-Claw911 Emergency Control Centre. With a single call, trained controllers immediately coordinate the entire emergency response, ensuring the patient receives rapid stabilisation and emergency transport to an appropriate medical facility. The entire incident is actively managed from the moment the emergency is reported until the patient has been handed over to the responding medical team. Starting from just R20 per employee per month, businesses can provide their workforce with immediate access to professional emergency medical management and response, giving both employers and employees greater peace of mind. Every company should ask itself one simple question: If one of our employees collapsed today, would everyone know exactly what to do?

If the answer is “I’m not sure,” then today is the day to review your emergency procedures. Because when it comes to medical emergencies, preparation isn’t just good business practice, it can be the difference between life and death.

T: +27 (0)31 109 1888

E: care@mobiventures.co.za

W: www.mobiventures.co.za

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