When To Use Items In Your First Aid Kit

When To Use Items In Your First Aid Kit

First aid kits are essential for workplace situations that don’t need a trip to the hospital or emergency room. These incidents may include burns, bee or wasp stings, cuts, minor falls, and other types of common workplace accidents.

Although there are measures within workplaces to prevent these scenarios, sometimes they still happen. Having a first aid kit within the office can be helpful in case these accidents take place. If you are unsure of when to use the items within your first aid kit or how to use them, the team at Harberry Training are here to help with our first aid courses Belfast.

 

 

Why Are First Aid Kits So Important?

Within the UK thousands of people are badly injured or die in serious incidents. Many of these deaths could be prevented if first aid is performed before the emergency services arrive at the scene.

The British Standard BS 8599 give workplaces suggestions on the number of first aid kits a workplace should have and how big these kits should be. These recommendations will depend on how many employees are present within the workplace and if there are any hazards present in the working environment.

 

Lower-risk workplace environments, including office spaces, schools, libraries, retail shops, and cafes, will require fewer first aid kits compared to more hazardous environments. Their recommendations are as follows:

• A small sized first aid kit for less than 25 employees require 
• One medium sized kit for workplaces with 25-100 employees
• A large first aid kit per 100 people for an environment with over 100 employees

 

Workplaces with higher levels of hazards present, such as warehouses, manufacturing chemicals, engineering, or using dangerous machinery, will require additional recommendations when it comes to their first aid. This includes:

• One small sized first aid kit for less than 5 employees
• A medium sized kit between 5-25 employees
• One large first aid kit per 25 employees 

 

Where You Should Place Your First Aid Kits

Constructing a first aid kit for your workplace is an easy task. They should be fully stocked and easy to access at all times to treat minor injuries that will not need emergency attention. Where these first aid kits are stored and how many you need should depend on the layout of your workplace, for example, certain floors within your workplace may have more hazards and will require a larger number of first aid kits.

First aid kits should be mounted to the call, stored in a cabinet or placed on top of countertops. They should be easy accessible, easy to see and there should be a sign that clearly states that there is a first aid kit near by.

 

What Should I Put Inside My First Aid Kit?

There is no required list of items that should be included within your first aid box. The HSE suggests the following first aid items be added to your kit:

• An informational leaflet offering guidance on first aid
• 20 individually wrapped sterile plasters in a number of different sizes 
• 2 individually wrapped sterile bandages
• Medium and large individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings
• 2 sterile eye pads
• 3 pairs of disposable gloves
• Safety pins

 

Workplaces with higher levels of hazards will require extra items within their first aid kits. These may include face shields or scissors to cut through clothing.

It is important to note that some of the items within your first aid kit will have expiration dates. It is essential that these dates are checked before use and that they are replaced once used or when they have reached their expiration date.

 

At Harberry Training we offer Level 3 courses in first aid at work training. These courses are suitable for anyone who has an interest in becoming a qualified first aider within their workplace. The qualification offered within this course is in accordance with the requirements of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 and 1982 (N.I.). 

Participants within this 3 day first aid at work course will provide them with the skills and knowledge to manage incidents in both low and high risk work environments. For more information about our first aid training Northern Ireland and what our courses entail get in touch with a member of our team today.