Most small accidents and injuries can be easily dealt with in the workplace if you have a well-stocked first-aid kit to hand. In fact, all employers are required to provide adequate, appropriate first aid equipment and train members of staff in first aid so that employees or customers can receive immediate assistance if they fall ill or are injured at work.
While there is no mandatory list of items that should be included in a first aid kit, you should take your company’s needs into account when stocking. For example, a high-risk kitchen environment would need specialized burns equipment, while an office environment will not usually need this.
Basic Items to Include:
Use your risk assessment to figure out what your workplace’s first aid kit needs. You should also make sure that the kit is fully stocked with a range of basic first aid items. These include:
- Gauze dressings
- Sterile bandages
- Eyewash
- Band-aids
- Wipes
- Adhesive tape
- Disposable gloves
- Finger dressings
- Burn dressings
- Distilled water
- Resus face shield
- Alcohol-free cleansing wipes
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- First aid guidance
You should also regularly check the items in the first aid kit to make sure that they are within the specified use by date. If items are out of date, you can dispose of them at a local pharmacy.
Restaurant First Aid:
In a catering environment, it’s usually essential to include specialized first aid equipment for burns and food allergy-related situations. Ensure that staff can recognize the signs of anaphylactic shock and know how to administer adrenaline. In addition, you should also consider adding the following to your restaurant first aid kit:
- Burn treatment sachets
- Burn gel dressing
- Conforming bandage rolls
- Foil blanket
- Hydrogel dressings
- Clothing scissors
Childcare First Aid:
If you run a business that works closely with children and infants, you will need to carry afirst aid kit that is adapted to meet their needsand provides information on procedures such as infant CPR. You might also want to provide band-aids and bandages that are designed to be more appealing to kids. Some essentials to consider adding to a childcare first aid kit include:
- Ice packs
- Gel packs
- Paper vomit bag
- Adhesive tape for smaller cuts
Defibrillators:
Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death around the world, which is why many businesses are now investing in an automatic external defibrillator from One Beat CPRand training their employees on how to use them. One Beat CPR provides medical equipment including defibrillators along with training classes for employees. During sudden cardiac arrest, the heart begins beating irregularly. The AED defibrillator is used to shock the heart into restoring its natural rhythm. Not using a defibrillator or CPR when a person is going intocardiac arrest can significantly reduce their chance of survival, so it’s important that the AED device is stored in an easy-to-reach area and that employees are trained in correct CPR techniques, as this can be used until the AED machine is available.
Having a well-stocked first-aid kit and trained employees at work means that any injuries or illnesses can be treated quickly before emergency help arrives if necessary.