Recommended items for a Personal First Aid Kit

This is a personal first aid kit suitable for having in the home or car or for taking out on trips, trekking, camping, holidays etc., and may not be suitable for some work or school environments due to the potentially harmful items included. This kit covers the minimum contents laid down by the HSE plus some additional items for personal use.

NB: This list should be amended as necessary for your circumstances, as this is a general overview.

ABC Training accepts no responsibility for the contents of your first aid kit.

Green, durable box, with white cross
ABC First Aid Training ´Quick Reference Guide´ (and first aid manual)
Relevant contact numbers for emergencies
Gloves
Ventilation mask / shields
Dressing pads of various sizes (for bleeding control)
Rolled bandages - various sizes
Combination dressing and bandage
Non-adhesive dry dressings (burns)
Adhesive tape*
Sterile swabs (cleaning wounds)
Triangular bandages (slings etc.)
Bandage scissors
Tweezers (removing splinters)
Needle (remove foreign material)*
Safety pins (secure bandages etc.)
Thermometer
Water, saline solution (irrigate wounds)
Emergency blanket (warmth, and to assist with shock management, comfort)
Cold packs, ice packs (help with sprains, bruises, dislocations, fractures)
Small paper cup (eye injuries)
Antibacterial soap/wipes (to clean wounds)*
Hydrocortisone cream (stings / irritations)*
Aspirin and other pain killers (helps heart attack victims, swelling etc)*
Plastic bags (dispose of gloves etc.)*
Antihistamine tablets (allergic reactions)*
Sugar, chocolate, orange juice, glucose (diabetes patients)
Plasters*

* Some organisations prefer these items not to be included.

Recommended items for a School / Nursery First Aid Kit

Quantities depend on number of children, age, and frequency of use. This kit follows the minimum contents laid down by the HSE.

Individually wrapped ´sterile adhesive dressings´ (plasters) - HYPOALLERGENIC.
    Should be individually wrapped and in different sizes.
Written confirmation can be sought from parents and ´normal´ sticking plasters can be used on these children.
Waterproof plasters can be used if appropriate, but fabric plasters allow the wound to heal better.
A range of sterile dressings of various sizes appropriate for age of children.
    They are easier and quicker to apply if the dressing comes attached to a bandage.
Triangular bandages - useful as slings or to immobilise.
Scissors to cut bandages and safety pins to hold them in place. Use medical scissors (rounded ends).
Sterile gauze pads for cleaning and covering wounds (Do not use cotton wool - this leaves particles in the wound).
Sterile eye pads.
A finger bandage (tubegauze) and applicator.
Disposable gloves, resuscitation shield or mask and plastic bag for disposal.
    Always wear gloves when coming into contact with blood and bodily fluids.

DO NOT INCLUDE: Sprays, medicated wipes, lotions or creams (allergies), tablets or proprietary medicines.
Only ever give a child medication brought by a parent on written instructions from that parent.

Keep Accident & Incident Record Book in a safe accessible place. Keep the First Aid Kit in a green airtight container with a white cross and labelled as a first aid kit. If this is kept in a cupboard for example, the door should be labelled "First Aid Kit in here".

Ensure that the first aid kit is replenished whenever it is used so inappropriate equipment is not used. Have a spares box!

It is a legal requirement to log all accidents/incidents in the accident book.

Please consult person in charge of health and safety for any necessary additions or exemptions.

ABC Training accepts no responsibility for the contents of your first aid kit.

Recommended items for a Business First Aid Kit

Quantities depend on number of people, age, and frequency of use. This kit follows the minimum contents laid down by the HSE.

Individually wrapped ´sterile adhesive dressings´ (plasters) - preferably HYPOALLERGENIC.
    Ideally individually wrapped and in different sizes.
Waterproof plasters can be used if appropriate, but fabric plasters allow the wound to heal better.
A range of sterile dressings of various sizes appropriate for different sized wounds.
    They are easier and quicker to apply if the dressing comes attached to a bandage.
Triangular bandages - useful as slings or to immobilise.
Scissors to cut bandages and safety pins to hold them in place. Use medical scissors (rounded ends).
Sterile gauze pads for cleaning and covering wounds (Do not use cotton wool - this leaves particles in the wound).
Sterile eye pads.
A finger bandage (tubegauze) and applicator.
Disposable gloves, resuscitation shield or mask and plastic bag for disposal.
    Always wear gloves when coming into contact with blood and bodily fluids.

DO NOT INCLUDE: Sprays, medicated wipes, lotions or creams (allergies), tablets or proprietary medicines.

Ensure that the first aid kit is replenished whenever it is used so inappropriate equipment is not used.

It is a legal requirement to log all incidents in the accident book.

Please consult person in charge of health and safety for any necessary additions or exemptions.

ABC First Aid Training accepts no responsibility for the contents of your first aid kit.