Here’s Everything You Need in Your Workplace First Aid Kit

Is your workplace safe enough? Or maybe you’ve never even given this question a thought. 
Whether you’re a business owner or an employee in a company, knowing if your company is prepared with the employees’ first-aid and safety concerns is crucial.

Do you know if you and your coworkers are prepped, mentally and physically, to tackle any kind of workplace hazard? Workplace safety deserves a priority of its own, and you must be ready, in case there’s an accident or emergency.

Also, do you have a fully-equipped First Aid Kit at your workplace?
A first-aid kit is an important aspect of workplace safety. As EMCARE is dedicated to making your workplace as safe as possible, we've put up a first aid kit checklist to guarantee you have everything you need.

The Importance of Having a First Aid Kit At WorkAccidents never come with prior notice. It can happen anywhere and at any moment.
Even if you've completed our First Aid and Resuscitation courses and have the best of intentions, we do not have any control over what can happen uninvitedly in our workplace. Can we?

But what we can do is act fast, implement sufficient preventive and safety measures and always have a fully-stocked first aid kit in place. Every workplace should have a first-aid kit ready. While the contents of the kit can vary from one workplace to another, the core elements remain the same.

First aid supplies are essential across all establishments, not only in an industrial and commercial set-up, where workers are exposed to various kinds of risks and the degree of damage is greater. This includes retail businesses, restaurants, departmental stores, malls, construction sites, and other locations.

Anyone among your staff members or visitors in your premises can fall sick, sustain a bruise or cut, and so on. A first aid kit and probably a course in resuscitation and safety can ensure that you are prepared to cope with circumstances.

Workplace First Aid Kit ChecklistThe components of first-aid kits should contain essentials enough for smaller workplaces with two or three workers. But as your company grows, you'll need to upgrade the content of your first aid kit. The number of workers, the quantity of traffic, the sort of work, and the design/style of your workplace will influence how many first-aid kits you’ll need.

The following are the most important components to have in a first-aid kit:

• Gauze pads and bandages, including:
  
• 4 x 4-inch gauze pads
  
• Two 8 x 10-inch large gauze pads
  
• Band-Aids or a box of adhesive bandages
  
• Two triangular bandages
  
• 2-inch wide one package gauze roller bandage
  

Other first aid kit items include:

• Blankets
  
• Latex gloves
  
• Adhesive tape
  
• Wound cleaning agent (e.g. sealed moistened towelettes)
  
• Elastic wraps
  

In addition to your first aid kit, you should have the following items on hand to guarantee the safest possible workplace:

• CPR / AED Resuscitation equipment (e.g. pocket mask, airway or resuscitation bag)
  
• Directions on how to request emergency assistance.
  

It's definitely a wise call to have more in place than less (when it comes to first-aid preparation).

P.S.:

• To respond to a workplace crisis is to make sure you are prepared for every circumstance, so make sure you have an extra set of first aid equipment on hand.
  
• Make sure you keep track of your first-aid supplies as well on a regular basis. Items that have been opened, used, or expired should be replaced.
  
• Ensure that your first-aid kit is kept in an easily accessible spot at your office. Each employee should know where the first aid kit is located, so they can easily reach for it quickly in the case of an accident.
  

How EMCARE can help with your emergency First Aid preparedness
One of the most crucial aspects of a first aid kit is to know how to use it correctly. After you've created your [come-in-handy] first aid kit checklist, make sure you know how to avoid or respond to first-aid or emergency situations.

EMCARE's training programmes offer courses that are best suited to the safety requirements of companies across New Zealand. Our first aid and resuscitation courses teach you how to avoid workplace accidents, and our Basic Life Support and AED course teaches you how to efficiently reach and assist in an emergency.

Every organization in New Zealand needs a safe workplace to function at its best, and good first aid readiness is at its heart. Having the appropriate first-aid safety procedures and policies in place creates a safe and productive work environment.

If you have any queries concerning first aid or workplace safety in general, please contact us.

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