Six Ways to Use a First Aid Kits in your Homes & Office
First Aid Kits are one safety equipment many people know but very few have.
When you consider that Johnson & Johnson invented the first first-aid kit in 1888, this becomes even more fascinating.
According to legend, during a train trip to Colorado, the company’s founder, Mr. Robert Wood Johnson, had a fateful encounter with the chief surgeon of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway.
The doctor spoke about the dangers of industrial injuries that construction workers faced when building railroads, how hard it was to treat medical emergencies there due to a shortage of medical equipment, and how there were no hospitals nearby to handle such cases.
It was said that Mr. Johnson saw an opportunity to grow his budding company and improve the healthcare industry which led to the creation of the first aid cabinet.
It’s been over 136 years since that fateful train ride, and today, first aid kits are used in homes, offices, schools, and other public spaces.
What is a First Aid Kit (FAK)
A first aid kit is a safety gear filled with supplies to provide a first line of medical assistance in the event of an accident or an injury. It is used to administer quick medical response in an emergency.
Some interesting facts about first aid:
- About 2 million people in the world are killed by injuries or illnesses in the workplace.”
- In the US, 33% of all injuries occur at home.
- Some of the most common injuries are cuts, burns, choking, poisoning, and electric shocks.
While first aid kits are more common today than a century ago, people still make mistakes with the contents and use of these kits.
In today’s post, we share six mistakes you might be making with your first aid kit and what you should do instead.
6 OF THE MOST FREQUENT FIRST AID KIT ERRORS AND TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID THEM.
- INCOMPLETE OR INADEQUATE SUPPLIES:
One of the most common mistakes is having an incomplete first aid box or having insufficient quantities to handle multiple injuries. Many people assume they have all the essentials but often miss critical items, neglecting to carry out a proper assessment to identify what is truly needed.
SOLUTION:
Ensure your first aid box is well-stocked with a variety of items, including:
- Adhesive bandages (various sizes)
- Sterile gauze pads and adhesive tape
- Antiseptic wipes and antibiotic ointment
- Scissors and tweezers
- Instant cold packs
- Gloves (non-latex)
- Digital thermometer
- Burn dressing.
- Eyewash solution
- FAILURE TO CONSIDER WORKPLACE OR HOME RISKS:
Ignoring specific hazards related to the workplace or home environment can lead to a first aid kit that is not tailored to your particular needs.
SOLUTION:
Conduct a thorough risk assessment of the workplace to identify potential injuries or health issues specific to your environment. Ensure the first aid kit includes items relevant to these risks, such as burn treatments for kitchens, antiseptic swabs for grazes and scratches or eye wash for workshops.
- EXPIRED ITEMS:
Did you know that some of the medical supplies in first aid boxes expire? Like any other item, you may find that your wound pads, sterile dressing, and gauze have an expiration date.
An expiration date simply means that such an item should no longer be used once it is past that date.
Using expired items in the first aid kit can be ineffective or even harmful. Medications and topical treatments lose their effectiveness over time, and expired items can be dangerous.
SOLUTION:
Regularly check the expiration dates of all items in the first aid kit and replace any that are outdated. Set a reminder to inspect the kit every six months. You can also order refill packs where some of your first aid kit contents are expired. You can order here.
- POOR ACCESSIBILITY
Storing the first aid kit in a hard-to-reach or locked location can delay emergency response. In some organizations or homes, the kit might be locked, and the key designated to someone who might not be available when needed.
SOLUTION:
Place the first aid kit in a visible and easily accessible location. Ensure all employees and family members know where it is and how to access it quickly in an emergency.
- LACK OF FIRST AID TRAINING:
Lack of training is one of the biggest challenges with having a first aid kit. In our investigations, we have met many parents and employers who have first-aid kits but knew nothing about the contents or how to use them.
Having a well-stocked first aid kit is futile if employees and family members are not trained to use it properly.
SOLUTION:
Provide regular first aid and CPR courses for employees and family members to familiarize themselves with how to use each item in the kit and how to respond to common workplace or home injuries. Regularly refresh your knowledge to stay prepared.
You can book a training session with us.
- INADEQUATE NUMBER OF KITS AND INSUFFICIENT QUANTITY:
Having only one first aid kit for a large office or multiple floors can be insufficient. Having only one or two of each item might not be enough during an emergency, especially in multiple injuries.
SOLUTION:
Get a first aid kit that is suitable for the size and layout of your office or home, maintain multiple first aid kits in strategic locations (for large spaces) and stock multiple quantities of essential items like bandages, antiseptic wipes, and gloves, tailor the quantity based on the number of people the kit is intended to serve and the nature of the environment.
FIRST AID AS FIRST RESPONSE
A key benefit of a first aid kit is that it provides much-needed medical assistance to tackle injuries and illnesses in our homes and offices.
Look out for Part 2 where we share 6 additional mistakes first aid kits.
