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First Aid Kits

What is Required and What Really Works. Does It Mean the Same Thing?

First aid kits for the home and jobsite are commercially available in large variety. The contents of the individual kits varies so the question one needs to ask when purchasing or assembling a first aid kit is "What will the kit be used for?"

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard defines minimum requirements for the contents of a workplace first aid kit. ANSIs list includes:

• Gauze pads (at least 4 x 4 inches)
• Box of adhesive bandages
• Two triangular bandages
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Latex gloves
• Two elastic wraps
• Directions for requesting emergency assistance
• Two large gauze pads (at least 8 x 10 inches)
• One package gauze roller bandage at least 2 inches wide
• Wound-cleaning agent such as sealed moistened towelettes
• At least one blanket
• Adhesive tape
• Resuscitation equipment such as a resuscitation bag, airway, or pocket mask
• Splint

Kits with minimum required contents are adequate for responding to minor first aid calls and should be made available to all injured employees.

When supplying items for a first aid kit, consider the history of accidents, expected hazards and expected first aid needs. It may be necessary, depending on the job or location needs, to go beyond the minimum "first aid kit" baseline and instead develop a medial emergency response kit suited for the specific jobsite.

Training of the first aid users is essential. Training should include the use of all the equipment provided and how to respond to emergencies.

Local emergency response personnel can help develop response procedures tailored to the hazards of a particular jobsite. Consulting with a doctor about the equipment, training, and policies could also prove helpful. Check state regulations; many of these safety measures may be required by a state law.

There is more to job safety than just having a first aid kit aroundthe proper equipment, training and procedures are essential to help make sure injured workers will receive proper emergency care.

June 2003 IBEW Journal