All employees made first aiders
The "SVBS AWARD" for the first aider of the year 2022 goes to the company ambulance service Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG. The company trains all employees as first aiders, and around 60 percent of the workforce are also trained in BLS-AED. This not only helps the employees, but also the entire region.
Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG's company paramedic team consists of six members who work in different areas and are trained as company paramedics. However, the company's catchment area covers around 400 square kilometers - administrative and operational buildings, as well as tunnels, reservoirs and 13 power plants, plus hotels, various mountain railroads and more.
With this large catchment area, the company cannot deploy a traditional company ambulance service in an emergency. This makes medical support more difficult. And, depending on the location of the incident, it can take a relatively long time for professional emergency services to arrive on site, as the Swiss Association for Company Paramedics (SVBS) writes in its press release.
All employees regularly refresh their knowledge
That is why the company is now training all employees to become first aiders. According to the SVBS, they refresh their knowledge at least every two years. Employees with IVR level 2 and 3 would carry out this training, with changing focus topics.
Since 2019, these exercises have been carried out together with the fire department, according to the statement. Special training and adapted topics are organized for hotel staff, employees in the tourism sector and chauffeurs.
In addition, around 60 percent of all employees are trained in BLS-AEDs. In this context, the company made various AEDs in the area publicly accessible in 2022. In addition, the alerting of company paramedics was optimized in 2022.
Thanks to this strategy, the company currently has around 300 first aiders who have already been able to deal with various emergencies in different areas, the SVBS emphasizes.
Praise from the SVBS
"First aid in the company must always be adapted to the size of the company, the type of operation, the operational hazards and the local situation," says Stefan Kühnis, SVBS President. "The company has recognized that this is hardly feasible in the traditional way. And it has not resigned itself to this, but has developed a well thought-out solution that ultimately not only helps the employees in the company, but also the population in the region."
The SVBS AWARD
Every year, the SVBS honors the first aiders of the year. The awards recognize particularly innovative projects in the field of first aid or exemplary first-aider deployments. In doing so, the SVBS expresses praise, gratitude and recognition. Through the award-winning stories, the SVBS wants to inspire other first-aiders to become just as active and implement a similar first-aid project in their company or environment or to call on their knowledge and provide the best possible help in an emergency.
In addition to the SVBS Award, the winners also receive a cash prize of CHF 2500, sponsored by the Hartmann company.
If you would like to inspire other first responders with your stories or projects, you can find the application form for the next SVBS Award 2023 at SVBS. Applications for an award must be submitted by April 1, 2024 at the latest. The award ceremony will take place as part of the "First Responders Symposium" at the KKL Lucerne on October 26, 2024.
