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First Aid Kit Contents

One question often asked about First Aid is, what exactly should be in my workplace First Aid Kit? There are many factors that would determine the exact contents, such as risk levels and working practices taking place. 

Is your workplace low risk, such as a shop, office or library, or is it higher risk, such as construction, warehousing or food production? Any industry where power tools or hot processes are used, such as tree surgery or foundry work may require additional equipment.

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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says that for low risk workplaces, where desk based work is carried out, the normal minimum contents should be:

  • a leaflet with general guidance on first aid 

  • individually wrapped sterile plasters of assorted sizes

  • sterile eye pads

  • individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile

  • safety pins

  • large and medium-sized sterile, individually wrapped, unmedicated wound dressings

  • disposable gloves

They also recommend that you buy kits that meet British Standard (BS) 8599. Although this is not required by law, following the HSE recommendation will help to keep your staff safe from injury and your business safe from litigation.

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Additional equipment, for higher risk environments might include trauma dressings, tourniquets, haemostatic gauze and burns dressings.

The size of your kit will depend upon the size of your organisation and the risk level involved. The chart below is a helpful guide, based upon the HSE BS 8599 recommendation.

First Aid Kit Sizes and Contents

We hope that this article was helpful to you. If you require any First Aid or Fire Safety Training please click the button below to book one of our available courses. Alternatively, head over to our contact page to book in house training at your premises.

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