CONTENTS OF A FIRST AID BOX

What should I keep in my first aid kit?

It's important to have a well stocked first aid kit in your home so you can deal with minor accidents and injuries.

Your first aid kit should be locked and kept in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children.

Many people also keep a small first aid kit in their car for emergencies.

BASIC CONTENTS OF FIRST AID KIT (BOX) 

The basic contents of first aid kit (box) includes:

1.)   Plasters in a variety of different sizes and shapes
2.)   Small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings
3.)   At least two sterile eye dressings.
4.)   Triangular bandages.
5.)   Crêpe rolled bandages
6.)   Safety pins (small and large)
7.)   One packet of disposable sterile latex gloves
8.)   Tweezers.
9.)   Scissors.
10.)  Alcohol-free cleansing wipes
11.)   Sticky tape
12.)  Thermometer (preferably digital)
13.)  Skin rash cream, such as hydrocortisone or calendula cream or spray to relieve insect bites and stings
14.)  Antiseptic cream
15.)  Pain killers such as paracetamol (or infant paracetamol for children),
16.)  Aspirin (not to be given to children under 16 years of age, or ibuprofen.
Cough medicine,
7.)   Antihistamine tablets, (Eg Piriton)
8.)   Distilled water, (for cleaning wounds),
9.)   Eye wash and
10.)  Eye bath.
11.).  Disposable towel
12.).  Pads for bleeding

NOTE:
(i) It is also very important and useful to keep a basic first aid manual or instruction booklet with your first aid kit.

(ii) All medicines in the first aid kit should be checked regularly to make sure they are within their use-by or expiry dates.

(iii). As a matter of Policy schools must
maintain at least one major first aid kit located in the sick bay (Health post / First aid post).
(ix)  Store any medications separately from the first aid kit including any prescribed or non prescribed medication provided by a student’s parent /guardian,  or adult/independent student.

Contents

First aid kit contents should meet the first aid requirements of individual schools.  This table lists the general contents recommended by Ambulance Victoria.

Note: Thermometers are not:

necessary for first aidused in general first aid training according to theNational Health Training Package (First Aid Units of Competency) HLT07 (February 2007).Type of equipmentContent includes

Current first aid manual

one of the following recommended first aid manuals:

First Aid Emergency Handbook from:
- Survival Emergency Products
- local suppliers
- Ambulance Victoria First AidThe First Aid Handbook from Australian Red CrossAustralian First Aid from St John Ambulance Australia.

Wound cleaning equipment

gauze swabs: 100 of 7.5 cm x 7.5 cm divided into small individual packets of five sterile saline ampoules: 12 x 15 ml and 12 x 30 ml disposable towels for cleaning dirt from skin surrounding a wound

Wound dressing equipment

sterile, non-adhesive dressings, individually packed:
- eight 5 cm x 5 cm
- four 7.5 m x 7.5 m
- four 10 cm x 10 cm for larger woundscombine pads: twelve 10 cm x 10 cm for bleeding woundsnon-allergenic plain adhesive strips (‘band aids”), without antiseptic on the dressing, for smaller cuts and grazessteri-strips/wound closures for holding deep cuts together in preparation for stitching non-allergenic paper/adhesive type tape, width 2.5 cm–5 cm, for attaching dressingsconforming bandages for attaching dressings in the absence of tape or in the case of very sensitive skinsix sterile eye pads, individually packed

Bandages

six triangular bandages for:
- slings
-
- attaching dressings
- immobilising injured limbs
- splints etcconforming bandages to hold dressings in place:
- two of 2.5 cm
- two of 5 cm
- six of 7.5 cm
- two of 10 cmcrepe bandages (“hospital weight”) to secure a pad to control bleeding, to support soft tissue injuries (sprains & strains) and for ‘Pressure Immobilisation Bandaging technique’ for snake bite:
- two of 2.5 cm
- two of 5 cm
- six of 7.5 cm
- two of 10 cm
- two 15 cmheavy elastic bandages; two 15cm. These are ideal to use for ‘Pressure Immobilisation Bandaging technique’ for snake bite or severe allergic reaction to other bites and stings.

Injury treatment equipment

one pair of:
- stainless steel scissors (medium size)
- trauma shears (heavy duty scissors for cutting clothing, bandages, shoelaces etc. if required)disposable splinter probes and a sharps container for wastedisposable tweezersfor sprains, strains and bruises, two:
- gel packs, kept in the refrigerator, or
- disposable ice packs for portable kits made from small zip-lock plastic bags filled with water, frozen and wrapped in a cloth/bandage/disposable towel before being applicationflexible ‘sam’ splints for fractured limbs (in case of ambulance delay)additional 7.5 m crepe bandages and safety pins to attach splintsice packs.

Lotions and ointments

sun screen, ideally a low allergenic/sensitive skin type, with a sun protection factor of between 15+ and 30+single use sterile saline ampoules for the irrigation of eyes

Notes:

Creams and lotions, other than those in aqueous or gel form, are not recommended in the first aid treatment of wounds or burns.Antiseptics are not recommended. Cuts and abrasions should be cleaned initially under running water followed by deeper and more serious wounds being cleaned with sterile saline prior to dressing.

Hygiene and cleaning equipment

single use nitrile gloves in various sizes such as small, medium and large
Note: Some people are allergic to latex gloves.blood and vomit spill kitsdisposable hand towelsadhesive sanitary pads, as a backup for personal suppliesantiseptic hand wash/germicidal soap and nail brush for hand-cleaning before and after treatment onlysingle use antiseptic wipes for hand cleaning when water is not readily availableone box of paper tissuespaper towel for wiping up blood spills in conjunction with blood spill kitsingle use plastic rubbish bags that can be sealed, for used swabs a waste disposal bin suitable for taking biohazard waste
Note: Biohazard waste should be burnt. There are several companies that will handle bulk biohazard waste.ice cream containers or emesis bags for vomit.

Other equipment

resuscitation face mask such as “pocket mask” type that can be cleaned/reused one medicine measure for use with prescribed medications disposable cups
One teaspoon
pen-like torch, to measure eye-pupil reaction blanket and sheet, including a thermal accident blanket for portable kits possibly a generic EpiPen® for treating anaphylaxis sufferers see: Anaphylaxis within Related policies