First Aid Kits

A first aid kit may not always be available in an emergency. But if it is, it can make all the difference to know what it has inside it and how these items can be used. The contents vary from kit to kit, but some essentials will be present in most, if not all, first aid kits.

Definitely:

• Plasters

• Sterile dressings (medium)

• Sterile dressings (large)

• Sterile eye pad

  • Sterile - less risk of infection

  • Used to protect and shield the eye after an injury

• Triangular bandage

  • Used for slings and awkwardly-placed wounds

• Safety pins

  • Secure bandages and slings

  • Easily sterilisable with alcohol and flames for improvisation

• Disposable gloves (non-latex)

  • Helps to prevent infection and cross-contamination

  • Often non-latex since latex is a common allergy

• Guidance card

  • If you do not know how to use any of these materials, they will likely be on the guidance card.

Sometimes:

• Scissors

  • Cut clothes for access to a wound

  • Cut bandages to the right size

• Saline

  • Cleans wounds without irritation (unlike antiseptics)

  • Can be used to flush dirt out of eyes

• Foil blanket

  • Remember: foil blankets do not generate heat - they only maintain the current temperature

  • For use during shock, hypothermia, etc.

• Sterile tweezers

• Cleansing wipes

  • Minimise infection risk/cross-contamination

• Hand sanitiser

  • Minimise infection risk/cross-contamination