First aid kit should include

It is strongly recommended that you participate in a first aid course so you will have the knowledge and skills to use equipment in a first aid kit to help someone who is suddenly injured or becomes ill. Contents of a basic first aid kit First aid kit contents vary according to their particular use.

For example, a first aid kit for a farm will contain a few different items to a first aid kit for a city-dwelling family. A basic first aid kit should contain: Triangular bandages Crepe 'conforming' or elastic bandages of varying widths Non-adhesive non-stick dressings of varying sizes Disposable gloves medium and large , preferably made of non-latex material Thermal blanket Notepad and pencil Plastic bags of varying sizes Adhesive tape 2. Other equipment can include: Medium combine dressing pads 9 x 20 cm Large combine dressing pads 20 x 20 cm Adhesive dressing strips bandaids Medium gauze dressing 7.

Medications in first aid kits The First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice advises that first aid kits for workplaces should not contain medications. First aid is defined as the provision of emergency treatment and life support for people suffering injury or illness.

The dispensing of medication does not generally fall within this definition. It is recommended that medicines are not kept in a first aid kit. If you keep medicines for yourself or your family, such as paracetamol and aspirin for pain relief, they should be kept secure and out of reach of children. Storing your first aid kit Storage suggestions include: Keep the first aid kit in a dry, cool location. Make sure the first aid kit is easily accessible and that everyone in the family knows where it is.

Some items, such as solutions, may have use-by dates. Check regularly and replace when necessary. If an item is used from the first aid kit, promptly replace it. Buy a book on basic first aid to read about how to use the contents of the kit or, better still, participate in a first aid course. First aid equipment explained The various gauzes, dressings and bandages found in a first aid kit have different uses.

Some of these include: Adhesive strip dressings — small strips of gauze attached to a sticky backing. These dressings are used for minor cuts and skin injuries. In Australia, they are commonly called bandaids.

It is important to be aware that some people are allergic to bandaids. Non-adhesive dressings — best used for covering burnt or abraded scraped or grazed skin. If your child suffers a serious burn or scald, call triple zero for an ambulance. Learn more about first aid for burns here. St John has a range of downloadable fact sheets that provide a guide to basic first aid for common emergency situations. Read more on Epilepsy Action Australia website.

Psychological First Aid tip card Emerging Minds, Australia, December, Related to Bushfires, Natural disasters, Responding to traumatic events, Trauma, bereavement, loss and grief view resource Psychological First Aid for children is an internationally accepted strategy that can be used anytime, but is most widely used in the first hours, days and weeks following a traumatic event. Read more on Emerging Minds website. Read more on WA Health website. Choking is the second most common cause of preventable death in residential aged care.

It occurs when the trachea is completely or partially blocked by a foreign body, obstructing airflow. Choking can be gradual or sudden. It may only take a few seconds for the airway to become completely blocked. Read more on Ausmed Education website. The first aid for burns is to run cold water over the burn for 20 minutes. This is effective for up to three hours after the injury. Assess the affected body Read more on Australian Prescriber website.

Poisoning occurs when an individual ingests, inhales, injects or absorbs through the skin a substance that is harmful to human health. Poisoning may cause illness, injury or even death. More than people or 1 in every are poisoned every year in Australia.

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that causes an individual to experience recurrent seizures. Epilepsy may be a life-long condition, but seizures can often be controlled using medication. A seizure occurs when there is a disturbance within the brain caused by sudden, abnormal electrical and neuronal activity. There are three major groups of seizures: generalised onset, focal onset and unknown onset.

A burn is an injury wherein the skin tissue or eye is partially or completely damaged by heat, cold, electricity, chemicals, gas, friction, bitumen or radiation. A scald is a burn injury caused by a wet agent such as hot water or steam Burns and scalds can vary from minor to potentially fatal.

Very low or very high blood glucose levels are primary causes of diabetic coma occurring in people with diabetes. There are 3 types of diabetic coma: diabetic ketoacidosis coma; hyperosmolar coma and hypoglycaemic coma. Diabetic coma is regarded as a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.

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