First Aid, CPR, and Emergency Preparedness for the Small-Business Owner

Why Small-Business Owners Must Know First Aid and Emergency Response

As a small-business owner, you are often the most senior person on site. When a medical emergency or disaster strikes, employees and customers look to you to act. Many small businesses operate with lean staffs, meaning there may be no dedicated safety officer. Knowing adult CPR, how to use an AED, and how to manage common workplace injuries can be the difference between life and death. It also reduces legal and financial risk and builds a culture of safety that employees respect.

OSHA requires employers with more than ten employees to maintain a written Emergency Action Plan. Even if your business is smaller, having a written plan is a recognized best practice and protects everyone on site.

Adult CPR: The Basics

Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere—a customer collapses at the register, a delivery worker falls in your stockroom. The Chain of Survival developed by the American Heart Association describes the steps that improve survival rates:

1. Recognize cardiac arrest and call 911 immediately.

2. Begin high-quality CPR without delay.

3. Use an AED as soon as one is available.

4. Transfer care to advanced medical providers when they arrive.

Chest compressions are the most critical element. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest, at least two inches deep, at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute. Allow full chest recoil between compressions. Minimize interruptions.

Rescue breaths are given after every 30 compressions (30:2 ratio for a single rescuer). Tilt the head, lift the chin, create a seal, and give one breath over one second, watching for chest rise. If you are not trained in rescue breaths or are unwilling to give them, hands-only CPR is still effective and is recommended by the American Heart Association as an option for untrained bystanders.

Continue until the person shows signs of life, an AED is ready, or trained emergency responders take over.

Using an AED

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) analyzes the heart's rhythm and delivers a shock if needed. Modern AED units provide voice and visual prompts—you do not need to interpret heart rhythms yourself.

• Power on the AED as soon as it arrives.
• Attach pads to bare, dry skin: one pad below the right collarbone, one on the left side of the chest below the armpit.
• Stand clear while the AED analyzes the rhythm. Do not touch the patient.
• Deliver the shock if the AED advises it—announce "Clear!" loudly before pressing the button.
• Resume CPR immediately after the shock. The AED will prompt the next analysis after about two minutes.

AED pads are for adult use on patients roughly eight years old and older or weighing more than 55 lbs; pediatric pads or a pediatric key/switch are used for younger children when available.

Basic First Aid for Common Workplace Emergencies

Choking (adult/child): Ask "Are you choking?" If the victim cannot speak or cough effectively, deliver five firm back blows between the shoulder blades, then five abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver). Alternate until the object is expelled or the victim becomes unresponsive. If unresponsive, begin CPR and look for the object before giving breaths.

Suspected fracture after a slip and fall: Do not attempt to straighten the injured limb. Immobilize it in the position found using available padding. Control any bleeding with direct pressure and a clean dressing. Call 911 for serious injuries or if there is any doubt about severity. Keep the person still and calm while waiting for responders.

Bleeding control: Apply direct pressure with a clean cloth or gauze. Maintain steady pressure for several minutes before checking. Elevate the limb if possible. Do not remove the dressing if it soaks through—add more material on top.

PPE note: Always use gloves from the first-aid kit before contacting another person's blood or body fluids. Disposable nitrile or latex gloves are standard in commercial kits. Wash hands before and after care even when gloves are worn.

Fire Evacuation in a Small Business

If a fire alarm sounds or smoke is detected:

1. Alert everyone in the building verbally.

2. Call 911 before attempting to fight any fire.

3. Use a fire extinguisher only if the fire is small, contained, you have a clear exit behind you, and you have been trained—remember PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.

4. Evacuate using the nearest safe exit. Do not use elevators.

5. Close doors behind you to slow the spread of fire.

6. Proceed to the designated assembly point and account for all employees and customers.

7. Never re-enter the building until emergency services declare it safe.

Writing an Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

OSHA's Emergency Action Plan requirements identify the core elements every written plan should include. For a small business, your one-page EAP should address:

• Evacuation procedures and exit routes (use a simple floor plan).
• Assembly point outside and away from the building.
• Emergency contact list: 911, local fire department non-emergency line, poison control, property manager, key employee contacts.
• Roles and responsibilities: who calls 911, who sweeps the restrooms, who accounts for personnel.
• Location of first-aid kit and AED on the floor plan.
• Procedures for employees who need special assistance to evacuate.
• How employees will be informed of the plan (posting, training).

Post the EAP in a visible location, review it with all new employees, and update it when your layout or personnel change.

Safety Reminders

• Never skip gloves when providing first aid involving blood or fluids.
• Check your first-aid kit inventory monthly and replace expired or used items.
• Test your AED unit monthly per manufacturer guidance (most units self-test automatically but require a physical check of pad expiration dates and battery indicator).
• Practice the EAP with a brief walkthrough at least once a year.