Safety is one of the priorities we really care about. We all want to feel safe at work, at home, and wherever else we may go. This is why we decided to launch a first-aid training program in the framework of “Stay strong with Onwelo”, a new initiative designed to boost our employees’ well-being and develop their skills, not only in the professional arena.

Our six locations across Poland hosted Karol Bączkowski, a paramedic with 15 years of experience, who, self-reportedly, has “spent more than 40,000 hours working on board an ambulance”. Karol is also a professional first-aid trainer and campaigner. It is thanks to his effort that 26 AED devices were distributed in public space throughout Gdańsk.

“We decided to launch our first-aid training program because we thought the issue was critically important. I had followed Karol Bączkowski and his campaign for the dissemination of basic medical knowledge online for a long time. He attracted me with his communication style, which is matter-of-fact, but also humorous and accessible. We really hit the bull’s-eye with this idea. The turnout was great, our satisfaction ratings were excellent, and what we have learned is sure to remain engraved in our memory” – says Anna Łopuch, Marketing Manager at Onwelo, the mastermind of the initiative.

When in need, call 999 (not 112) and simply say “Help!”; you can find the nearest AED easily with a smartphone app; and an EpiPen with adrenaline can save your life if you have a sudden allergic reaction. These are but some of the useful tips we learned during the training.

The session lasted four hours and included first-aid demonstrations, as well as hands-on practice on human manikins. Karol provided his trainees with an important injection of knowledge, based on real life examples, and explained how to assess an emergency situation, make an emergency call, ensure the safety of your patient, care for a person who is unconscious or not breathing, and use an AED device. Apart from cardiac arrest, Karol also discussed situations that may involve choking, burns, wounds, bleeding, hemorrhages, epilepsy, and electrocution.

Why did our employees decide to sign up for the training? They wanted to refresh their memory of first-aid principles, get a chance to practice, and make sure they will be ready to respond to an emergency situation.

The training drove home the essential importance of being able to provide first aid in emergencies that may catch us unawares in any circumstances, also at work.

As Karol Bączkowski puts it: “Your workplace is a space where many things can happen. I am very happy to see similar initiatives, since they raise awareness and help avoid serious complications such as sudden cardiac arrest, permanent disability or death”.

The large turnout recorded at the event proves that there is a great need for life-saving education about. Many people still do not know the basic procedures, e.g. how to correctly call an ambulance.

We are glad our employees have shown so much interest in this topic. Watch a video report from the training at our offices in Warsaw.

Stay strong!