The ideal time to respond to a medical emergency is well before the emergency happens. Establishing policies in advance, publishing those policies in the employee manual or posting them on the company intranet, training individuals in the appropriate protocols, and having necessary equipment in place, all ensure that the emergency response to medical emergencies is as effective as possible. Since each company has its own unique risks, recommendations will need to be adapted to fit the specific work environment.
What constitutes a medical emergency? The answer is any acute illness or injury that poses a threat to the life or well-being of the individual. Below is a truncated list of warning signs from the American College of Emergency Physicians: