FIRST AID!
What First Aid equipment should be readily available?
There is no definitive list – the contents should be decided from an assessment of your sites first aid needs. As general guidance the following should be included as the very basic:
- Leaflet giving general guidance on first aid, e.g. HSE leaflet Basic advice on first aid at work
- Individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings (assorted sizes)
- Sterile eye pads
- Individually wrapped triangular bandages (preferably sterile)
- Safety pins
- Medium-sized (approximately 12 cm x 12 cm) individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings
- Large (approximately 18 cm x 18 cm) sterile individually wrapped unmedicated wound dressings
- Disposable gloves
- You should not keep tablets or medicines in the first-aid box
All first aid boxes must have a white cross on a green background. Similarly, first aid rooms should be easily identifiable by white lettering or a white cross on a green background. The signs should be placed where they can be seen (not obstructed from view) and easily identified.
Remember to check dates on the contents of the First Aid box!
- All eye injuries are potentially serious. If there is something in the eye, wash out the eye with clean water. Mains tap water should be your first choice for eye irrigation. 20ml saline steripods can be used as backup, but NOT large bottles as they have the potential once opened to become unsterile.
- Burns can be serious so if in doubt, seek medical help. Cool the affected part of the body with cold water until pain is relieved. Thorough cooling may take 10 minutes or more, but this must not delay taking the casualty to hospital.
Useful information to record:
- Date, time and place of incident
- Name and job of the injured or ill person
- Details of the injury/illness and what first aid was given
- What happened to the person immediately afterwards (for example went home, went back to work, went to hospital)
- Name and signature of the first aider or person dealing with the incident
- Action taken by site manager to prevent re-occurrence of the accident/ incident
- If the injured or ill person goes to hospital inform the Managing Director immediately
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