We all know the feeling of relief that comes with “We’ve got a first aider on shift.”
It sounds like a control. It feels like due diligence. It checks the box.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: a trained first aider does not guarantee a working first aid response.
The response can still fail in the only moment that counts, because the failure usually isn’t the first aider’s skills. It’s the system around them. It’s the missing supplies, the blocked access, the dead radio zone, the locked gate, the unclear directions, the panic over who calls, and the fact that nobody has practiced the first five minutes. That’s where real-world first aid breaks down.
If you want a simple, practical upgrade that actually moves the needle, keep reading. This is one of the highest return, lowest effort improvements you can make in an OH&S program.
In most workplaces, first aid training is treated like the finish line.
In reality, it’s the entry ticket.
Training gives someone the capability to provide care. It does not guarantee that care can be delivered quickly, safely, and in coordination with the rest of the workplace. That depends on readiness: equipment, access, communications, roles, and muscle memory.
In Alberta, for example, the requirement isn’t just “have a first aider.” Employers and prime contractors have to provide first aiders, supplies, equipment, and ensure they’re accessible and maintained. The Code also speaks directly to location and accessibility at or near the work site. (search-ohs-laws.alberta.ca)
Across Canada, the baseline expectation is similar: every jurisdiction requires some level of first aid, and what you need depends on hazards, number of workers, and how quickly professional medical help can be reached. (ccohs.ca)
So if response fails, it’s not only an operational problem. It’s an OH&S compliance and due diligence problem too.
The first five minutes of a serious incident are rarely calm.
People talk over each other. A supervisor starts directing traffic. Someone runs for a kit and can’t find it. Someone else calls 911 and realizes they don’t know the exact address, or they don’t know the best entrance, or the caller is in a noisy area with poor reception. Meanwhile, the first aider is trying to triage the situation while also managing the crowd and hunting for supplies.
This is why “trained first aider” isn’t enough. The first aider needs a functioning support system that activates instantly, without debate.
If you want your response to work, you need to build competence into the first five minutes, not just the first aider’s brain.
Most first aid response failures are predictable. They show up the same way in shop environments, construction sites, warehouses, property operations, and offices.
Here are the patterns that repeat:
Kits slowly get stripped over time. Bandages disappear. Scissors go missing. Eye wash is expired. Gloves aren’t restocked. The AED pads are expired or the battery is low. When the incident happens, you have a first aider and no tools.
The kit is behind a locked door. The AED is mounted in an office area that’s closed outside admin hours. The route to the casualty is blocked by stored materials or equipment. The gate is locked and only one person has the code. Snow piles block the best EMS access point.
Radios don’t work in certain areas. Cell reception is unreliable. People aren’t sure whether to call 911 directly, call a supervisor first, or call a site number. Two people call at once, or nobody calls because everyone assumes someone else did.
Nobody knows who meets EMS. Nobody knows who guides the first aider to the kit. Nobody controls the scene to keep untrained helpers from getting in the way. Nobody is designated to clear an access route.
This one is brutally common. Workers know the general location, but not the exact address, best entrance, floor, bay number, or how to describe the worksite clearly to emergency dispatch.
Even a skilled first aider can get overwhelmed. In a real incident, they need support: someone to fetch supplies, someone to call, someone to manage traffic, someone to guide EMS, someone to document. If you don’t plan those roles, the first aider gets stuck doing everything.
None of this requires expensive technology to fix. It requires a routine.
Here is the micro-tip that actually improves response performance without turning your calendar into a training nightmare:
Run a monthly 10-minute drill.
Not a full emergency exercise. Not a half-day production killer. Ten minutes.
The goal is to confirm that the first aid response system functions in real conditions, with real people, in real time, and to fix gaps immediately while they’re still small.
Keep the drill simple, consistent, and repeatable. The drill checks four things:
That’s it. Ten minutes. Once a month. The payoff is huge.
A drill only works if it’s treated like a performance check, not theatre.
You want truth, not a polished show. That means you don’t announce it three weeks ahead of time, and you don’t let people “prepare” by staging the kit. You run it like a simple readiness test.
Use scenarios that match your risk profile. You do not need graphic detail. You need a trigger that forces action.
Examples:
The drill begins with one sentence: “You’re the first on scene. Go.”
Then you observe. Your job is to learn where the system breaks.
Can the kit be located quickly, without guessing?
Can someone place hands on the AED quickly, without wandering?
Does the radio work from the area where the incident would occur?
Does someone actually call, and do they know what to say?
Does anyone know the exact address and best access point?
Does someone naturally step into the EMS guide role?
Does anyone clear the access route without being told?
If the same supervisor always calls and the same admin always guides, you do not have a system. You have a person-dependent workaround.
Rotate these roles:
Make the drill slightly uncomfortable, in a good way. That’s where learning happens.
A clean emergency call is a control. It reduces delay and confusion.
Workers should know, at minimum:
If people hesitate or argue, you just found a gap worth fixing.
Walk the access route you expect EMS to take.
If access is blocked, fix it immediately. Don’t “log it for later.” In a real emergency, later is too late.
In many Canadian workplaces, first aid kit requirements align to CSA standards, and kits must be maintained so they’re ready when needed. CSA Z1220 is widely referenced for workplace first aid kits, and guidance documents exist for kit types and contents. (csagroup.org)
Practical maintenance actions that prevent failure:
This is boring work, but it’s exactly what keeps a response from failing.
The value of a 10-minute drill is that it produces small, fixable findings that don’t require a committee.
When a gap shows up, fix it the same day whenever possible.
Examples of immediate fixes:
You do not need a complex form. You need ownership and closure.
If you do track it, track it like a control:
Then verify. If you never verify, you’re just collecting observations.
If you want this to be more than a good idea, Calgary Safety Consultants can help you build it into a working, audit-ready system that fits your workplace reality.
Here are practical ways we support clients:
We can evaluate your first aid response system beyond training certificates: kit and AED placement, maintenance, accessibility, communications, access routes, role clarity, and first five-minute performance.
We can design short, repeatable drill prompts and role rotations tailored to your environment, including high-risk operations, multi-tenant sites, remote work, and mixed shifts.
We can help you turn drill findings into owned corrective actions with verification steps, so the same failures don’t repeat month after month.
We can align your first aid readiness process with your broader OH&S program elements, including inspections, emergency response planning, competency assurance, and due diligence documentation.
If you want help implementing a simple monthly drill process and making sure it stands up to real-world pressure, reach out through calgarysafetyconsultants.ca.
First aid training is important, but it’s not the finish line.
The real measure of readiness is whether your first five minutes work: kit and AED found fast, communication is clean, access is clear, and roles activate without confusion.
A monthly 10-minute drill is one of the simplest controls you can add to your OH&S program, and it pays you back in speed, confidence, and real due diligence when the day goes sideways.
Connect with us here and let us help you improve your OH&S practices.
https://search-ohs-laws.alberta.ca/legislation/occupational-health-and-safety-code/part-11-first-aid/ (search-ohs-laws.alberta.ca)
https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/firstaid/firstaid_general.html (ccohs.ca)
https://www.csagroup.org/wp-content/uploads/First_Aid_Kit_Items.pdf (csagroup.org)
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-86-304/page-30.html (Department of Justice Canada)
A trained first aider is only one part of readiness. A working response also requires accessible kits/AEDs, clear communication methods, unblocked access routes, and assigned roles for calling and guiding EMS.
Failures usually come from system issues: missing supplies, expired AED pads/batteries, blocked access, weak radio/cell coverage, unclear calling procedures, and no practice of the first five minutes.
It’s a short drill focused on what happens immediately after an incident: locating the kit/AED, making the emergency call, assigning someone to guide EMS, and confirming responders can access the casualty quickly.
Calgary Safety Consultants is here to help you ensure compliance, enhance safety, and streamline your OH&S program. Don’t wait—fill out the form, and we’ll connect with you to discuss how we can support your business. Let’s get started!
Calgary Safety Consultants delivers game-changing COR Audits and OH&S consulting designed to keep your business safe, compliant, and accident-free. With 30+ years of expertise in high-risk industries like oil & gas, construction, and manufacturing, we understand the unique challenges you face. We offer tailored safety solutions that not only meet regulatory standards but also reduce operational risks and protect your workforce. From conducting thorough safety audits to implementing comprehensive safety management systems, we ensure your team is fully supported. Our hands-on, collaborative approach means we're with you every step of the way, helping you achieve a safer, more efficient workplace. Let us handle the heavy lifting so your team stays protected, and your business thrives!
