Every workplace should have at least one first aid box containing essential supplies for the small ouches. Plus, supplies that are relevant to your particular workplace. Therefore, we recommend undertaking a first-aid needs assessment to ensure your first-aid box or station has the relevant supplies. This type of evaluation should cover the workplace, the workforce and the risks and hazards. Particularly relevant if working with machinery or hazardous materials.
At the very least, you should provide,
- A person to take charge of first-aid arrangement
- Information for all employees giving details of first-aid arrangements
- A first-aid kit suitably stocked for your workplace
If maybe you decide after an assessment that a qualified first-aider is necessary. For that, we at CPN Training can help train selected members of your staff or a larger group of staff so you can always know a trained first aider on hand whenever the workplace is operating.
10-Basic Contents Of First Aid Kit
- Explanation leaflet – This tells the staff what they can find in the first-aid kit and what they are used for. This can also have a record of when they were placed in the kit and when you should remove them as out of date. The leaflet can also provide contact details for the on-site first aider and emergency services.
- Exam Gloves – these are essential to minimise any contamination from either the first-aider or the patient.
- Sterile Gauze – Cuts and bleeds are quite common so having sterile gauze to press on the wound is another basic requirement. These come in different sizes, but 4×4 is a fairly standard requirement for most first-aid kits.
- Antiseptic & Alcohol Wipes/Pads – Essential to clean minor wounds, scrapes or burns to limit the spread of any germs.
- Bandages & Adhesive Plasters – a paper cut can bleed excessively, so an appropriately sized plaster or bandage should be applied to prevent a workstation from being covered in blood.
- Remember to include blue plasters for any work area concerned with food preparation.
- Stretch bandages that adhere to the body are also very useful. Triangular bandages can support an arm in case of suspected injury to the arm or shoulder until professional help arrives.
- Cold Packs/Ice – These are handy for pain and swelling, but it is advisable to have an injury site by a professional as unless you have x-ray eyes, you cannot know if the injury is a sprain or a break.
- Tweezers – These are handy for removing debris from a wound, like glass, dirt, splinters or thorns. Probably best you don’t have aggressive cacti plants in the office!
Sterile Eye-Pads – For use in minor eye surgery to provide initial protection from infection. You should not use the eye-pads if something becomes embedded in the eye – seek professional help. - Medical Tape – To secure bandages.
- Safety Pins – To secure bandages.
If you require further advice on the contents of a first-aid kit for your business or training in first-aid for staff, please contact us for a chat.
