According to the European Resuscitation Council, as many as 70% of sudden cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals, and the immediate reaction of a bystander can double or even triple the victim’s chances of survival (ERC Guidelines 2021). WHO statistics also show that more than 50% of deaths from injuries occur before reaching the hospital – often because witnesses do not know how to respond. In Poland, CBOS research indicates that only about 20–25% of adults feel confident providing first aid.
Awareness of these figures inspired us to organize a three-day series of first aid training sessions at Patpol, attended by three groups of our employees.
During the workshops, we:
- Practiced cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an AED – a device that can save lives in critical minutes.
- Learned what should be included in a home and car first aid kit and how to respond in situations such as choking, loss of consciousness, heavy bleeding, or burns.
- Discussed emergency scenarios at work and beyond, so we know how to stay calm and act effectively.
The training was also an opportunity for team integration. Stepping outside of daily duties and learning together foster trust and collaboration across the team.
For our firm, this is an important element of organizational culture: we care not only about professional development but also about the well-being and safety of our employees and their families. We believe initiatives like this build awareness and responsibility – values that are essential in teamwork and in our relationships with those around us.