It is common knowledge that every workplace should have a first aid kit readily available to be used at any time, however what you may not know is exactly what the kit should include. It can be vital that certain components are not omitted, so here is an overview of the first aid kit essentials to make sure you are fully prepared.
Plasters
Kicking off with possibly the most used part of any first aid kit, the plasters. It is important to make sure that your kit includes a variety of plasters, ranging in sizes and shapes, so that small cuts and nicks can be covered easily. There should also be a selection of coloured plasters available depending on your workplace. For example, blue plasters are usually used in kitchens as they are easy to spot if they accidentally drop into any food and they are often fitted with a metal strip to make them even easier to detect.
Gauze Dressings
Gauze dressings are made up of woven and non-woven fibres. They can be made of cotton, polyester or rayon, and offer good protection against bacteria. The fibres in the dressing are used to absorb any fluids coming from an open wound, preventing infection and allowing the healing process to begin. Similarly with plasters, there should be a variety of sizes available so you are prepared for a range of injuries.
Disposable Gloves
Disposable gloves are not only useful to a person suffering from an injury or health issue, they are also very helpful to the person administering the first aid. Gloves offer a protective layer between you and any blood emitted from a cut or wound. They also give protection to the afflicted person as it will stop any potentially harmful bacteria on your hands from transferring into their wound and causing infection.
Cleansing Wipes
When treating any wound or cut, it is extremely important to make sure that the affected area is clean, which is why alcohol free cleansing wipes should be included in your first aid kit. If a wound ends up getting infected, a lot of times this can lead to the injury escalating into something far worse than the initial issue. A quick wipe of the injured area is a simple but very effective way of making sure someone’s injury remains clean and safe from infection.
Tuff Cut Scissors
A pair of scissors may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about first aid, but they can be very handy in a variety of situations. Tuff cut scissors specifically can be used to cut clothes, bandages, ropes and even motorbike leathers if need be. This can be very useful for either freeing someone from being stuck in a harmful position, or cutting away clothes to be able to effectively treat an injured area that is otherwise difficult to get access to. These scissors are also intelligently designed in a way to pose no threat of accidentally cutting the injured person.
Digital Thermometer
Someone’s body temperature can be one of the most telling signs to show if they are in need of medical assistance, which makes having a thermometer in your first aid kit a very useful tool. It is advisable to purchase a digital thermometer that can go in someone’s mouth or ear, as these are likely to give the most accurate reading. Thermometers are a fast, easy and harmless way of checking on someone without being too intrusive.
Antiseptic Cream
Antiseptic cream includes cream that is used to treat rashes, insect bits and skin abrasions. Similarly to cleansing wipes, antiseptic cream will work to free the applied area of harmful bacteria that could lead to infection. Applying antiseptic cream early will give a wound, rash or bite the best chance of healing quickly. This is something that is easy to apply and will help reduce pain over time.
Eye Wash and Dressings
It is no secret that your eye is one of the most delicate parts of your body, which is why it requires specific tools to help treat them in the case of an injury. Much like with an injury on any other part of the body, it is important to clean the afflicted area, which is where eye wash comes in. Eye wash can help remove any dust particles that can’t be spotted by the naked eye, and can be very helpful to clean the eye from any chemical splash contact.
There are a selection of dressings available that are designed specifically to treat the eye. These include bandages that are made from a soft pad that sits over your eye, which is strapped around your head using a stretchy bandage. These dressings are made to sit comfortably on someone’s eye, causing as little irritation as possible whilst offering the necessary protection.
Bandages
Bandages can be one of the most useful parts of any first aid kit. There are a variety of bandage styles that can be applied in a range of situations. Roller bandages will be found in most first aid boxes and are used to hold dressings against wounds to keep them secure. Triangular bandages are shaped so that they can be easily made into a sling, ideal for shoulder or elbow injuries. Finally, tubular bandages are good for providing compression to injuries, used effectively to immobilise a knee or elbow joint, avoiding any further injury.
Flagship Partners
We hope that you found this overview of what should be included in the contents of your first aid kit helpful. Flagship Partners offers multiple first aid courses and services in Peterborough. If you would like to find out more about these services, you can get in touch with us by filling out our online contact form or by calling us on 03300 553643.
