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First aid kits for workplaces, early years foundation settings, and not forgetting  your pets.

Despite best intentions, there will be times when the first aid kit is not available. Life happens. We often talk about contingencies during our practical classroom sessions. What a resourceful lot you all are.

First Aid Kits

For Workplace BSI, Catering, Paediatric, Outdoor Extras and Pet specific kits, see below.

This list is based on a combination of advice from the Health and Safety Executive and the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

The quantity of first aid supplies required will depend on the number of people on the premises at any given time and the specific working environment.

Whats in the box?

For further guidance from the Department for Education, First Aid in schools, early years and further education click here

1 x First Aid Guidance leaflet

1 x Protective face shield

20 x Assorted hypo-allergenic plasters

2 x Sterile eye pads

4 x Triangular bandages

6 x Medium wound dressings

2 x Larger wound dressings

10 x Assorted L/A dressings

1 x Roll of hypo-allergenic tape

2 x Pairs of disposable gloves

1 x Pair of scissors

10 x Packs of sterile swabs

1 x Finger bandage

If you want to get into the weeds

Please do get in touch for recommendations on where to buy. A bandage is a bandage.

HSE Compliant Workplace Kits

Paediatric (Video)

Pets

Head Injury Form

Essential First Aid Kits in the Workplace: The BSI Range

In any workplace, the presence of first aid kits is critical. Let’s explore the BSI range of first aid kits, available in small, medium, and large sizes, with a focus on the small BSI kit. It’s also worth noting the HSE kits as an older variant.

Comparing BSI Kits with HSE Kits

While HSE kits look similar to BSI kits on the outside, they don’t contain as many items. The new standard for the General Workplace is now the BSI kit. However, when selecting a first aid kit, conducting a risk assessment is necessary to ensure you choose the appropriate kit.

Design and Function of the BSI Kits

BSI kits come in clamshell cases that securely fasten at the top. They also feature a wall bracket for easy mounting or can be hung via a hook attached to the handle. To open, lift the top catches and flip the case open.

BSI First Aid Kits

The contents of BSI kits, regardless of size, remain the same; the quantity of items varies. Let’s take a look inside:

  • First Aid Guidance Leaflet: Provides important information about recovery positions, how to perform CPR, and other basic first aid knowledge.
  • Gloves: BSI kits contain six pairs of gloves to cater to situations with multiple casualties or first aiders. This is a notable difference from the HSE kits, which only contain one pair of gloves.
  • Triangular Bandages: Versatile and can be used for various purposes, including slings or packing and padding for wounds.
  • Conventional Dressings: Ideal for cuts, featuring a woven gauze pad for easy use.
  • Thermal Blankets: Useful for keeping patients warm, especially those experiencing shock due to blood loss.
  • Wipes: Useful for cleaning wounds or dirt off hands.
  • Resuscitation Face Shield: Single-use item for rescue resuscitation.
  • Plasters: Assorted sizes for various wound types.
  • Eye Pad Dressings: Specifically for eye injuries.
  • Conforming Bandage and Micropore Tape: Useful for securing dressings and splints.
  • Shears: Safe for cutting clothing and dressings.
  • Larger HSE Dressings: For larger injuries.
  • Burn Gel Dressing: Useful when running cold water isn’t available for cooling burns.
  • Finger Dressings: Specifically for finger injuries.

Catering Versions of BSI Kits

The BSI range also includes catering versions of the kits. These variants have blue dressings with embedded strips, allowing easy detection by X-ray or magnetic machines if a plaster ends up in food products during preparation.

These kits are targeted at businesses, they can be used for home first aid as well, as they contain all the necessary items.

Haemostatic Agents

For Outdoors and Forestry, High Hazard Environments.

The extras you may require in your first aid kits are topical haemostatic agents. Haemostatics are applications designed to stem blood-flow through the promotion of accelerated clotting.  As with all treatments it is important to understand their roles, applications and the differences between them.

Both Tourniquets and Haemostatics are covered during our practical first aid courses, and we advocate their use but only when appropriate.

Outdoors and Forestry, High Hazard Environments

Click here to learn more, and view tutorials, from “Real First Aid” a highly recommended resource.

As an independent organisation with no affiliation, we would recommend the product *CELOX. It can be used on animals as well. https://www.celoxmedical.com/cx-product/celox-rapid/

There are other haemostatic agents on the market.

*I always have some in my car. I mean you never know. I have used on my dog, when he slashed his paw. He went into shock due to blood loss. The Celox gauze probably saved his life. You must be very careful with these: you will need a face shield as you can’t inhale the product- it clots blood including arteries.