What should a first aider carry?

Carry a first aid kit with you or know where you can find one. To be prepared for emergencies: Keep a first aid kit in your home and in your car. The Red Cross recommends that all first aid kits for a family of four include the following: 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches) 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes), also found within our Family First Aid Kit 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch) 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram) 5 antiseptic wipe packets 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each) 1 emergency blanket 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve) 1 instant cold compress 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large) 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each) 1 3 in. gauze roll (roller) bandage 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide) 5 3 in. x 3 in. sterile gauze pads 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches) Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass) 2 triangular bandages Tweezers Include any personal items such as medications and emergency phone numbers or other items your health-care provider may suggest.

A first aider should carry a first aid box. There is no set requirement for the contents of a first aid box, but as a minimum it should have: a leaflet giving general first aid guidance; plasters of assorted sizes; sterile triangular bandages; disposable gloves; safety pins; medium size sterile wound dressings; large-size sterile dressings; sterile eye pads. Make sure that all first aid equipment is in date. Tablets and medicines should not be kept in the first aid box. Your employer should have an accessible first aid box containing basic first aid equipment.

A minimum first aid kit might contain a leaflet with general guidance on first aid, individually wrapped sterile plasters of assorted sizes, sterile eye pads, individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile, safety pins, large and medium-sized sterile, individually wrapped, unmedicated wound dressings, disposable gloves. If you are buying a kit look for British Standard (BS) 8599. Your kit doesn't have to meet this standard but you should check it contains what you've identified in your needs assessment. Many items, particularly sterile ones, are marked with expiry dates. Replace expired items, disposing of them safely. If a sterile item doesn't have an expiry date, check with the manufacturer to find out how long it can be kept. For non-sterile items without dates, you should check that they are still fit for purpose.

Nitrile, or other non-latex gloves to prevent contamination for you and your patient. Sterile gauze pads to place directly on the wound. These are available in various sizes but 4x4 is fairly universal. Kling, or other bandage to wrap the affected body part. Some first aid kits can be pretty comprehensive. They range from a small pack that you can carry on your bicycle, to those used by medical professionals. Here are some basic things to add to your kit that can come in handy in sticky situations, or until paramedics arrive: Examination gloves Adhesive bandages Medical tape Cold compresses Medical scissors Tweezers Gauze pads Gauze rolls/kling rolls Triangular bandages Alcohol pads Antiseptic towelettes Trauma pads, which are larger than gauze pads, are also a good idea.

When it comes to first aid equipment, the minimum you will need is a suitably stocked first aid kit. The contents will depend on what risks were identified in your first aid needs assessment. As a guide, where work activities involve low-level hazards such as in an office, the suggested minimum contents of a first aid kit include: individually wrapped sterile plasters, sterile eye pads, individually wrapped triangular bandages, safety pins, large sterile individually wrapped unmedicated wound dressings, medium-sized sterile individually wrapped unmediated wound dressings, disposable gloves, face shields or pocket masks, alcohol free cleansing wipes, adhesive tape, foil blankets, guidance notes on first aid. Other contents of a first aid kit could include: Scissors, blister plasters. If your first aid provision includes children, you may consider: stickers, but you may find keeping them with, rather than in, the first aid box is safer. There should not be any medication in first aid kits.