Imperative Training – What should be in your first aid kit?

A first aid kit should be readily available if someone suffers an accident, whether this is at home, work, school or any public setting.

In many cases, this is a legal requirement. The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations state that all workplaces must have a properly stocked first aid kit on site to deal with medical situations.

Whether you are faced with a minor medical mishap that can be solved by your in-house first aider, or you just need to do what you can until professional medical assistance arrives, there are various items that every first aid kit must contain. These include an advice leaflet, plasters, bandages, eye pads, safety pins, medical tape, gloves, cleansing wipes.

The exact contents of your kit may vary depending on your situation. For example, if you have a first aid kit at home and a member of your family suffers from a particular medical condition, you will likely have supplies in your kit to deal with this.

The items listed in this infographic represent the legal minimum, and as such can be considered a solid foundation upon which to build your first aid procedures.

Our infographic below makes it clear what is needed for each component of your first aid kit to meet the required standards, as well as providing some useful tips on how to use the kit effectively.