A Guide to Choosing and Placement of Office First Aid Kits

 

First aid kits are an important addition to any office and are legally required for businesses to have on hand. But what should you include in your kits? And where should you store them?

Here are some facts about office first aid kits for you to consider.

Which Supplies to Include

There are some first aid supplies that you will want to include in every first aid kit. However, some may only be necessary for some situations or some kits.

At the very least, there are some supplies that you should always have on hand in your kits:

• Bandages (including triangular, 2″ gauze roller, and a box of 1″ x 3″ adhesive bandages)
• Trauma Pad 5″ X 9″
• Scissors and tweezers
• Exam gloves
• Eye wash
• Adhesive tape
• Antibiotic ointment
• Burn Dressing 4″ x 4″
• Cold pack
• Resuscitation equipment
• Antiseptic wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Eye Pads
• 3″ x 3″ Gauze pads
• Burn treatment 1/32oz.
• First aid instructions

These will cover a wide range of common workplace accidents and injuries, but this isn’t where you should stop! Many people consider these the bare minimum for a workplace first aid kit.

Alongside these basics, it’s probably a good idea to include some other items if you can manage it, including:

• Splint
• Tourniquet
• Thermometer
• Mylar blanket

Be aware that this is not a complete list, but it’s a good start for what to include in your kits. You should also change the number of materials included in the kit or the number of kits based on how many employees you have.

Workplace Hazards

You’ll also want to figure out what extra hazards are present at your workplace. While the items given above are commonly needed in many first aid emergencies, it may be that your workplace needs more specialized tools and equipment such as an eye wash station.

A typical office doesn’t usually have many additional hazards, but some offices can be surprising! Besides that, there are a wide variety of workplaces, not all of which are office-related.

Find out whether you have any hazardous materials at any part of your workplace and what steps should be taken to protect against them. Are people working with chemicals or with dangerous gasses? Depending on what they’re working with, it might be wise to look at hazmat training for some or all of your employees.

If you have heavy machinery and equipment, you’ll definitely want to include a lot of first aid gear for any heavy trauma and accidents. This includes extra bandages, tourniquets, and maybe even hemostatic dressings and bandages. You may never have to use these things, but the point of a first aid kit is to have the tools to deal with the events you hope never happen.

Additionally, it may be a good idea to have a supply of distilled water on hand. This is excellent for cleaning wounds and flushing chemicals from the eyes or skin. You can include a small bottle with your first aid kits for wound cleaning and a larger supply nearby for flushing and washing if you don’t already have a shower or other system installed.

Premade vs. Assembling Your Own

You can buy a premade first aid kit, order a custom kit, or assemble your own from scratch. Each method has its own benefits, and you’ll have to weigh what works best for your company.

Building a kit from scratch is generally more expensive than buying a prebuilt first aid kit. You’ll have to search for the tools and pieces, find a good container that can store them, and maybe even order some of the specialty medicines and supplies.

However, a homemade kit will be tailor-made for your business needs. If you have something you want to include that isn’t normally found in a store-bought first aid kit, you won’t have to worry about cramming it into that tiny box.

On the other side, a premade first aid kit is usually more cost friendly and offers most of the supplies you will probably need. You won’t forget to include something vital if you already have a kit made, and everything comes in a nice case. It’s convenient, reliable, and covers most of your bases from the get-go!

Ordering a custom-made kit can help give you the best of both worlds. You include the pieces you need, but the whole thing is assembled by experts who can make sure that everything fits neatly and that you have what you need on hand.

Where to Place Your Office First Aid Kits

You’ll want to place your first aid kits in a spot where they are accessible, marked, and known to your employees. It’s useless if you have to spend precious time hunting for a kit.

A common hallway, a box mounted in the employee break room, or some other designated spot in a central location are all good places to set your first aid supplies. Make sure your employees know where to access the kit. You should tell them the location and  provide office maps or markings to indicate where to find it.

Basically, look at your company’s layout and figure out the best place to put the kit where it is convenient for any emergencies you might encounter. The easier it is to find and access, the better chance you have of responding quickly in an unexpected emergency.

Stock Up on First Aid Supplies

If you’re interested in learning more about office first aid kits, or you want to order some for your workplace, we’d love to help!

We can also help you with your first aid kit refills, planning, and anything else related to your office’s first aid response.

We’ll do our best to make sure you get exactly the first aid supplies you need to help keep you and your employees safe. Feel free to contact us and tell us what you’re looking for.