Palmer Steel employees become lifesavers
Palmer Steel of McAllen, Texas has begun the task of certifying all company staff in how to perform CPR, use an AED and deliver critical first aid. The first 10 employees received training in these areas in late April from South Texas College’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing. Each employee will receive a CPR/AED & First Aid Lifesaver card from the American Heart Association and certificate from STC.
The IAM provided the training onsite with real, life-size dummies that are able to detect if the proper CPR techniques are being applied. STC CPR Instructor Ricardo Olivares tests every individual to make sure they meet AHA standards and are able to properly administer CPR.
“We want our company to set the standard on safety and we are getting there with our entire staff already being OSHA certified, but now my goal is to have them to all be certified lifesavers,” said Juan Figueroa, safety and human resource director for Palmer Steel. “We work with heavy equipment, cranes, forklifts, extremely heavy machinery, and accidents can easily happen. I am glad our employees will have the tools to save a life if an accident were to happen.”
According to the American Heart Association, if a victim in need of medical attention does not receive immediate, effective CPR from a bystander, the victim’s chance of surviving sudden cardiac arrest decreases seven to 10 percent per minute. Unfortunately, on average, less than one-third of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims receive bystander CPR, which can double or triple a person’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest.
“Many times people nearby don’t help because they’re afraid they will hurt the victim and aren’t confident in what they’re doing,” said Olivares. “With all the heavy manufacturing taking place at Palmer, this training will be very beneficial.”
The AHA is the authority in resuscitation science, education and training. STC is proud to provide the training through AHA, with courses reflecting the most current resuscitation science from the official American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
This is another successful project funded by the Texas Workforce Commission Skills Development Grant under NAAMREI.
To find out more about STC’s IAM CPR/AED First Aid training Program call 956-872-6222 or visit http://Manufacturing.SouthTexasCollege.Edu.
