A first aid kit is our small, basic emergency kit in emergencies and should always be ready to intervene in an emergency.

The first step is to choose the right container for your first aid kit. It can be either a crate or a convenient bag or even a watertight container if the working conditions would require it. You should consider whether the mobility of your first aid kit will be a better solution, or perhaps its location in a stationary container hung on the wall, or perhaps its modularity. Remember that regardless of the type and location of the first aid kit, it should be easily accessible and properly labeled, in accordance with the Polish Standard.

The contents of the company’s first aid kits should be consulted with the occupational medicine doctor supervising the employees. Let’s also consider whether, in addition to the standard dressings, it is not worth considering investing in additional equipment, e.g. AED, Splint splints, tourniquet, orthopedic board, or other equipment used to evacuate the injured from the scene of the incident, etc. Let’s take into account the size of our workplace, the availability of workstations for emergency services, the hazards that occur, the frequency of accidents, the type of accidents that occur, etc.

Now it’s time to fill your first aid kit with the necessary materials. Here’s a basic, minimal kit that can be found in a first aid kit:

• Dressings: sterile individual dressings, gauze compresses (small and large), elastic bands (small and large), knitted support bands (small and large), plasters with dressing, adhesive, triangular sling.
• Disinfectants: sachets with gauze pads soaked in disinfectant.
• Scissors: safety scissors with rounded ends.
• Thermal blanket: emergency blanket/NRC foil.
• Protective equipment: disposable gloves, masks/mouthpieces for artificial respiration.
• Instructions for first aid.

• A list of persons authorised to provide first aid, a list of emergency numbers.
• Other optional materials, e.g. saline, hydrogel dressings, elastic mesh supporting the dressing.

Remember that the company’s first aid kit should not contain medicines, painkillers or hydrogen peroxide.

The last step is to regularly check and replenish the contents of the first aid kit. In accordance with the procedures established in the workplace, check that all necessary materials are in place, that they are not expired, that first aid kits are clearly visible, properly labeled, and that they are available. Verification of first aid kits is most often carried out by employees appointed by the employer authorized to provide first aid, but there is no obstacle for this to be carried out by other employees appointed by the employer for this purpose.

Source: https://www.i-bhp.com/post/wyposa%C5%BCenia-apteczki-pierwszej-pomocy

Supported by Norway through Norway Grants 2014-2021, in the frame of the Programme “Social Dialogue – Decent Work”.