Responding to accidents and injuries in the workplace is a priority for some very basic and practical reasons.

First of all, injuries require immediate attention.  Even "first aid only" situations have the potential for infection and other serious complications if initial treatment is ignored.

Serious injuries and medical emergencies need not only quick response, but also appropriate actions in the interim until professional help is available.  

Employers are responsible for having a plan in place for responding to injuries and medical emergencies.  This includes having first aid supplies available for minor wounds.

If a worker is more seriously injured but it is not an emergency, incident response includes transportation to and from the hospital or clinic.

Emergency planning includes having designated individuals who have been trained to call 911 or emergency services.  Emergency phone numbers should be posted by each phone.

Some industries and work situations require maintaining personnel on site who are trained in first aid, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and rescue breathing.  Designated first responders need additional training in the hazards of contact with bloodborne pathogens during the process of rendering aid. 

Proper reporting of accidents, injuries and "near miss" incidents is essential to ensure that causes are properly investigated, evaluated and corrective actions taken as required.  It is hard to imagine anything "dumber" than allowing a second person to be hurt as the result of an uncorrected hazard that caused an earlier injury. 

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