What should be in an emergency first aid kit?

If a medical emergency occurs in the workplace, being prepared and responding swiftly could help to save lives.

According to the law, it is the responsibility of all employers to ensure that they have made appropriate first-aid arrangements to protect their employees if they fall ill or sustain an injury at work. The first-aid arrangements and procedures in place will vary depending on the size of the business and the industry it is in.

According to the HSE, employers must ensure that their first aid provisions are ‘adequate and appropriate in the circumstances’. To do so, businesses should undertake a first aid needs assessment that looks at a variety of factors including the business’ size, industry, the nature of work, history of accidents, and any hazards and risks that apply.

One of the most basic first aid measures, which applies to businesses of all shapes and sizes, is to make sure that they always have a fully stocked first aid box on site.

What should be in an emergency first aid kit?

The contents of your business’ emergency first aid kit will depend on the results of your first aid needs assessment.

There are however some basic first aid items that no emergency first aid kit should be without, these include:

• Plasters
• Sterile pads
• Sterile eye pads
• Sterile wound dressings
• Bandages
• Disposable gloves
• A face shield or face mask
• Gauze pads
• Cleansing wipes
• Medical tape
• Scissors

Depending on the results of your first aid needs assessment, your business or organisation may be required to have additional first aid equipment or supplies kept on site. These may be very specific to the type of hazards or risks that are relevant to your workplace.

Additional first aid supplies and equipment may include:

• Foil blanket
• Tourniquets
• Automated external defibrillator
• Sterile disposable tweezers
• Shears for cutting clothing
• Adhesive porous hypoallergenic tape

If your first aid needs assessment identifies your business as being high risk, it may also require you to provide a suitable first aid room for storing all supplies and equipment and carrying out first aid if required.

Who is responsible for ensuring that it is fully stocked?

To ensure that the first aid kit is always looked after and fully stocked, one or more people should be appointed to take charge of this responsibility.

Whether this person requires first aid training or not will depend on the size and nature of the business. Small, low-risk businesses are not always required by law to have a trained first aider, although they may still wish to do so. Larger businesses or high-risk businesses that require employees to handle hazardous substances or use hazardous tools, equipment, or machinery are required by law to have trained first aiders.

The person who is in charge of stocking the first aid box will either be a trained first aider or a person appointed to take charge of your business’ first-aid arrangements, including the first aid box and calling emergency services if required.

Appointing one or more people to take on this responsibility ensures that everyone knows who is accountable for the job.

Where should an emergency first aid kit be stored?

First aid materials should be stored in a first aid box clearly marked by a white cross on a green background so it is easily recognisable. The box should always be stored in the same easily accessible location and all employees should be made aware of where it can be found.

Larger businesses may require more than one first aid box.

Make sure that your first aid box is kept in a protected area where it will not be damaged or dirtied by dust or dampness.

Emergency first aid training with CBAT

If your business requires first aider training for designated employees, then CBAT have got you covered.

We offer a professional and fully regulated, 1-day, QA Level 3 course in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF).

We are a trusted training provider for some of the largest healthcare organisations nationwide. Our comprehensive and engaging emergency first aid course is run by trainers with extensive practical knowledge of first aid and healthcare.

Ready to book your place on one of our life-saving first aid training courses?

Browse our full range of course dates online, give our team a call on 01772 816 922, or email admin@cba-training.co.uk to find out more about our first aid courses or to book your place today.