Every home, workplace and public setting should have a first aid kit; you should also have a first aid kit in your car and you should always take one on holiday with you. A first aid kit should contain:
- 6 medium sized sterile dressings
- 2 large sterile dressings
- 2 extra large sterile dressings
- Cleansing wipes (these should be alcohol free)
- Disposable gloves (these should be worn to prevent a spread of infection)
- Safety pins (these are useful for attaching bandages)
- Plasters (for small wounds)
- Blue plasters (these are to cover up cuts during cooking and food preparation)
- Triangular bandages (these can be used to make a sling or as a dressing for bigger wounds)
- Face shield (this is to be used during resuscitation if the casualty is bleeding around their mouth; this will prevent a spread of infection)
- Scissors (to cut bandages, dressings and plasters)
- Tweezers (to remove splinters)
- Thermometer
- 2 crepe bandages
- Microtape (for fixing bandages and dressings)
If you, or someone you work or live with, have a severe allergy or a serious health condition, it may also be beneficial to carry a dose of suitable medication for these problems; for example, people with severe allergies may carry an extra epi-pen and asthmatics may carry an extra inhaler.