With so many first aid kits on the market it can be really hard to select the right kit. Ask yourself the following questions to help decide what sort of kit you need
Is the kit intended for workplace or Personal use?
- Workplaces in Australia have minimum standards they need to meet. Check your requirements on the Safe Work Australia website or your state authority.
- Personal kits can be as extensive or as basic as you like -remember the majority of injuries happen in the home.
How many people will the kit be servicing and are they adults, children, or both?
- More people = bigger kit.
- Bandages & dressings can often be cut down to size for use on children, but there are some things that need to be sourced in appropriate sizes.
What sorts of injuries are likely where the kit is to be available?
- Common injuries vary with the environment, but might include cuts, bites & stings, sprains, grazes, fractures, overexposure to heat or cold, allergies, bleeding, bruises, internal injuries and burns.
- You might not need a snake bite kit in an office, but you would most likely take one if you were heading out on a bushwalk.
Would you be able to keep your possible casualty alive until advanced medical help arrives?
- Average ambulance response time in Sydney is 11 minutes or less
- Some areas of Australia could out of reach of advanced medical aid for several days
Does it need to be portable or will it be kept in a fixed location?
- The location of kits need to be clearly marked and accessible in an emergency
- For fixed location kits consider how you would get a badly injured casualty to that location.
- If portable, consider how heavy it will be. Who will be responsible for it and can they move it easily?
- How will the kit be transported? Are there sufficient grab handles, shoulder straps or wheels?
- Will the outer container or bag withstand the perils of transport?
How much space do you have to keep the kit?
- Will it be kept in a backpack, sports bag, car, cupboard, office, truck, boat, factory or elsewhere?
- Kits come in a various sizes – ranging from a deck of cards to a whole room
- Some compact kits can contain much more equipment than one two or three times their size
– it is all in the design.
Is it likely to be dusty, wet or dark where you might need the kit?
- Once they get wet most kits are useless
- Dirty kits or equipment can cause life threatening infections
- Consider including a small torch or having reflective trims to make things easy to find
- Consider storing your kit in a protective sealed case or cupboard to keep it clean and dry
What sort of training have your first aiders got?
- Kits should contain an emergency manual with basic first aid information for those with no training
- Improve your chances of successful first aid by getting some basic first aid training
(In Australia it is compulsory to have access to at least one person with a first aid certificate in every workplace at all times) - Some first aid equipment/situations may require additional training – e.g. Use of EpiPen, oxygen, defibrillator , remote area, diving, marine etc.
Budget also plays a part in this decision, however when it comes to first aid kits & training consider this, Having even a basic kit is better than having nothing, but if given the option, why not get the best kit you can afford? You may NEVER need it, and let’s hope you don’t, but what happens if you do? How much are you willing to spend to protect your life or the lives of those you care about?
For further information on First Aid Kits and Training, please visit our website www.excitesafety.com.au Find us on Facebook or Email us with your question.
