CHARTLOTTE, NC  – June is National Safety Month, an observance meant to educate and influence behaviors around the leading causes of preventable injuries . Burke Communications, an advertising and creative design firm in Charlotte, NC, is participating in National Safety Month by bringing awareness to the Charlotte community on the importance of corporate and workplace safety. 

In observance of National Safety Month, Burke Communications is taking a moment to address the importance of safety in the workplace. “We really want to build awareness and provide resources to local business owners on how to keep the work environment safe,” says Jack Burke, President of Burke Communications. “Some businesses may not have first aid or emergency plans. Accidents can happen at any time and it’s important for businesses to be prepared.”

In 2010, The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported nearly 3.1 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses .  While some work settings may be more hazardous than others due to the nature of the business, an emergency can happen at any time. From someone slipping on a wet floor to slicing a finger in the break room during lunch hour, businesses should be prepared for any accident.

First Aid kits are an essential to every office setting. Earlier this week the Burke Communications team set aside a day to resupply its first aid kit as part of National Safety Month. Every so many months, businesses should replenish their kits as supplies are taken out and used. Burke contacted the local NC Safety and Health Council to learn more about how to better prepare for workplace emergencies:

At minimum, the American National Standards Institute requires a first aid kit to include a first aid guide, two pairs of medical exam gloves, ten antiseptic towelettes, three 3x3 sterile dressings, a triangle bandage, an adhesive tape roll, and at least six applications of burn treatments. A more comprehensive list of items can be found at http://www.nsc.org/safetyhealth/Pages/3.11SafetyTipsFirstAid.aspx.

Many of those items are inexpensive and can be bought at local dollar stores. But there are also more expensive equipment to consider. Defibrillators, or AEDs, are devices used to jumpstart a person’s heart that has stopped beating. While you must be certified to use this device, it’s an importance device that could save someone’s life. Last month, Jack Burke completed his certification in first aid, CPR, and AED use, giving Burke Communications a designated emergency responder in the event of a serious medical emergency.

“Over the next few months we are going to review some basic life-saving techniques as a group, such as the Heimlich Maneuver,” Burke explains. “Unless you’ve recently taken a first aid course, you probably haven’t reviewed that since middle school; it’s a simple movement that could someone’s life.”