Not all employees at the gym are certified in first aid or CPR. Yet it's crucial that every employee know how to handle an emergency situation, whether it's as simple as giving someone a Band-Aid or helping them get to the hospital in an ambulance. So here are some important things you should know about handling emergencies at the gym:
A gym can be an unpredictable place
Gym employees need to be prepared for anything. A gym can be an unpredictable place, especially during peak hours when everyone is trying to get their workout in. There are many factors that can affect the mood of gym goers: they may be under stress, in pain, or experiencing some kind of health issue. Additionally, there's always a chance that someone will have an accident while working out--not because they're clumsy but because there are so many obstacles at hand (like equipment) or distractions (like music).
Gym staff should know how to respond if someone has a heart attack or other medical emergency at the gym and what steps they should take beforehand to prevent these incidents from happening in the first place.
You need to know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack or stroke
- Heart attack: Symptoms include chest pain or discomfort, nausea, shortness of breath, and pain in the left arm.
- Stroke: Signs include weakness or paralysis on one side of the body; difficulty speaking; sudden confusion or trouble understanding speech; sudden vision loss in one or both eyes; dizziness when you stand up suddenly.
- How to respond: If you think someone might be having a heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately and provide them with as much information as possible (name/age/location). The next steps include performing basic first aid techniques like applying pressure to a wound or performing CPR if necessary (you should also know how to use a defibrillator).
In the case of a medical emergency, always call 911
In the case of a medical emergency, always call 911. Don't be afraid to ask for help from other members or staff. If you're on your own and don't know what to do, ask someone who does.
Don't try to take care of it yourself; there's no shame in calling 911! The same goes for anyone else who happens to be at the gym when an emergency occurs--don't assume that someone else will take care of it (or just stay out of their way). Don't worry about being in trouble with the law if you make this call; many states have Good Samaritan Laws that protect people who help others during an emergency situation from liability lawsuits or criminal prosecution later on down the road (so long as they acted reasonably).
If it's not a life-threatening situation, you might want to start with basic first aid techniques like CPR and bleeding control techniques
If you're not sure what to do, here are some basic first-aid techniques that every employee should know.
- CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a lifesaving measure that can help someone who has stopped breathing or whose heart has stopped beating. To perform CPR, position yourself behind the person and kneel down with one knee on either side of them. Place your hands on their chest so that they are directly over the nipples (not under). Then press down firmly--about 100 times per minute--and release for about two seconds before pressing again. If this doesn't work after about two minutes (and chances are good it won't), call 911 immediately and continue doing chest compressions until help arrives. Tourniquet: If someone has sustained an injury from which blood loss threatens their life, you may need to apply a tourniquet above the injury site. Pressure dressing: This involves applying pressure directly over wounds with bandages or gauze pads until medical help arrives.* Bandage: A bandage is used when there's no bleeding but there is still some swelling caused by damaged tissue underneath skin layers.* Sling: A sling helps support an injured arm or shoulder while it heals.* Splint: A splint keeps broken bones stable while they heal by limiting movement
If you're worried about liability issues, make sure your staff is properly trained
If you're worried about liability issues, make sure your staff is properly trained and up-to-date on their certifications, such as CPR and first aid. You can also have an emergency plan for the gym. This should include what to do in an emergency, who to call (911), where to go after calling 911, who will be responsible for what task during an evacuation, and so on. You may also want to consider having a training plan for staff so everyone knows how to handle specific scenarios that could arise at your facility--for example: "If someone falls while doing cardio equipment or weights at our facility they should."
Knowing what to do in an emergency at the gym
Knowing what to do in an emergency at the gym will help ensure that everyone stays safe. Make sure your staff is properly trained and up-to-date on their certifications, such as CPR and first aid.
If there is a life-threatening situation, call 911 immediately. There are a number of situations that can arise in a gym environment, ranging from minor injuries to major traumas: heart attacks or strokes are two examples of medical emergencies where immediate medical assistance is necessary for survival. It's important that you know how best to respond if someone suffers from either condition while working out at your facility--the sooner they get help, the better chance they have at recovery!
Conclusion
In the end, the most important thing to remember about handling emergencies at the gym is that you should always call 911. If it's not a life-threatening situation, you might want to start with basic first aid techniques like CPR and bleeding control techniques. If you're worried about liability issues, make sure your staff is properly trained and up-to-date on their certifications--like CPR and first aid certification--so they know what they're doing when they need it most.
