Since last decade, especially after COVID-19, whenever we opened the newspaper, we read that a young, health-conscious person died of cardiac arrest. Day by day, life-threatening medical emergencies like cardiac arrest, heart attack, and stroke are increasing in young and healthy people between the age group of 20 to 50. Every minute, 20 young, healthy people suffer from these three medical emergencies at workplace. Life can be saved, and complications can be prevented during untoward medical emergencies if the right help is given within 4 to 10 minutes immediately after the incident.
Let us take one medical emergency cardiac arrest where a minute before, the person was normal, and after one minute, the person is dead. By doing CPR, that person’s life can be saved. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has its own benefits, disadvantages, and potential complications. Rightly done CPR can save a life, and the employee can resume work within 2-3 weeks. Employees can start working from home 10-12 days after cardiac arrest.
Understanding these aspects is essential for anyone considering learning or administering CPR. Every second is important for survival. After receiving CPR, whether a person will live a normal life, die, or suffer complications and live an assisted life depends on the right technique of CPR.
Let me share the 2 cases that were shared with me. In November 2023, the marketing head of one of the leading firms lost his life at 4 pm due to cardiac arrest. After CPR by a trained CPR team, he did not survive. In May 2023, a graphic designer of the leading firm had a cardiac arrest at 4 pm. A trained CPR team gave him CPR, and he was admitted to the hospital with brain damage.
Now, let us understand the impact on business of both organizations.The first organization’s marketing head was looking for sales in the south region. As of 15th April 2024, they were still unable to find the marketing head for the south region. Due to additional pressure on the east and west marketing heads, the west marketing head resigned. Sales have gone down by 12%. The company is unsure about further loss as now they are searching for candidates for the south and west regions.
2nd company: It is almost 11 months, and the graphic designer has yet to resume the work. His absence has significantly impacted deliverables. Since the incident happened during office hours, they legally cannot replace him and must continue the salary. They are outsourcing graphic designer on call basis, which is an additional cost for the company. The company is unable to ask its existing client for additional costs. It has a significant impact on profit margin. One person’s time is gone with follow-up with the on-call graphic designer, impacting his performance. The loss of profit margin for 11 months has gone into lakhs.
Both companies spent time and money conducting first aid and CPR training for a few employees. Since the trainers did not have a medical background, they misguided the participants wi
th half-knowledge, so the outcome during the untoward incident was unfavourable.
The above two case studies will help the organization make the required decisions to become health resilient. A health-resilient organization means increased profit and staff retention.
When people quit the job, they give notice period and do proper handover but while one has sudden cardiac arrest or any other life-threatening medical emergency situation there no time to do handover which the reason for worst outcome.
At RADHEE Services, we guide the organization in planning and training for health, wellness, and safety. The entire process ensures that the response will save a life, prevent complications, and promote early recovery from an untoward incident.
Our guidance on planning ensures the nominal impact of the untoward incident. In conclusion, First Aid and CPR are crucial skills that can save lives in emergencies. It is important to recognize the training’s potential benefits, disadvantages, and complications. Comprehensive Plan, proper training, ongoing education, and an understanding of the risks involved are essential for effective and safe First Aid or CPR administration.
Selection of consultant and trainer ensure desired outcome and nominal impact during untoward incident. By weighing these factors, organizations can make informed decisions about developing a Medical Emergency Response Plan, conducting the required training, and being better prepared to respond to any life-threatening medical emergencies. Conducting wellness programs from qualified medical experts can help to prevent the life-threatening medical emergencies.
Dr. Rita Savla,
Medical Doctor and Expert in Trauma Management
Consultant and Trainer for Emergency Care, Hospital Safety and Disaster Management
Dr. Rita Savla is a Medical Doctor and Expert in Trauma Management and Consultant and Trainer for Emergency Care, Hospital Safety, and Disaster Management.
She is one of the rare combinations of have experience in clinical, adamic, administrative and policy advocacy in healthcare which ensure long-term sustainable solution.
She collaborates with organization for Health, Wellness and Safety Planning. She helps an organization to develop their Health plan. She is a trainer for Emergency Care, first aid and CPR. She takes medical educational session for wellness of employee. She has been working with various corporate to develop the medical emergency response policy.
Her aim is to prevent the health emergencies by guidance on medicine free life. Her vision is to save the lives of preventable deaths and reduce disability, promote early recovery by developing the required infrastructure and eco-systems in India.
Her experience during the Kutch Earthquake about mass casualty management, patients’ and family members’ accident incidents, post-accident management, and working in the casualty department made her do research about trauma management scenarios in India. She started working to improve the system. She has been instrumental in various changes in the country’s trauma and emergency care management.
She worked with the UN to update the Mumbai Disaster Management Plan, successfully implemented during the serial train blast 2006.
She has worked for hospital safety and disaster management.
You can connect with Dr. Rita Savla
Email: dr.ritasavla@radhee.com
WhatsApp: 9619814411
