In any work environment, employees and visitors can be injured or fall ill.  Irrespective of whether or not their injury or illness is caused as a result of the work they perform, it is the employer’s duty to ensure that employees receive immediate and appropriate medical care.

The treatment process of an injured person should be as follows:

First responders or First Aiders are normally the first to access an injured person and provide immediate care until paramedics arrive and continue with the emergency medical care required. The required lifesaving response time is measured in seconds to minutes!

Paramedics stabilise the injured person and perform Advanced Life Support (ALS) until the injured person is handed over to the doctors and nurses at a hospital. The usual response time is measured in minutes to hours!

Doctors and nurses provide care to the injured person they are ready to be discharged from hospital. The usual response time is measured in hours to days!

Recovery: Once discharged, some injured people may require further care or rehabilitation, which is usually managed by allied practitioners, such as speech/occupational/physio therapists and/or biokineticists. The usual response time is measured in days to weeks!