Keep a first aid kit to ensure instant health injury relief

Whether you are an active individual or part of a lively family, getting into scrapes happens to all of us. But knowing you have an up to date first aid kit to hand could often mean the difference between life and death should the unexpected happen.

No one likes the idea of getting into an accident, but however cautious you are accidents happen. So whether you have a cut finger or one of the family has a fall while playing in the garden, it's good to know that you have a well-stocked, up to date first aid emergency kit to clean, protect and sooth any injuries. Being prepared gives you the peace of mind that you can be effective in any emergency situation.

Store everything together

Like many people, your medical supplies are probably stored in a variety of places around the house kitchen draws, bathroom cabinets or even shelves in the bedroom. However first aid kits, or having one place to keep all your medical items, are a much better idea. For a start you will know that everything is in one safe place; a place that every member of the family will know about should there be an accident. It also means that your individual items will be stored properly, won't get damaged and will make it easier to find the exact item you want in an emergency situation.

Your kit could be a lifesaver!

The best first aid kits are ones that are well equipped with a good variety of supplies, covering injuries that involve bleeding as well as internal injuries such as a broken bone or pulled muscle. A good first aid kit will help you prevent infection, stop any excessive loss of blood, reduce scarring, help prevent an injury turning into a chronic problem and in the extreme, may even help prevent death.

Building the ideal first aid kit.

It is quite easy to buy a ready-made first aid kit in the shops, but it is just as simple to put together your own. It may be best to include some staple items such as plasters in a variety of sizes, sterile gauze dressings including eye dressings and a selection of bandages and safety pins. Add to that some alcohol-free cleansing wipes and adhesive tape, as well as creams that combat skin rashes, insect bites and some antiseptic cream. Items such as tweezers, scissors and a good thermometer are also handy to have available in your kit, as well as a selection of pain killers, decongestant and antihistamine tablets.

Always ensure that first aid kits are well stocked and stored in a cool place that the whole family is aware of. However, do make sure that the kit itself is securely stored out of reach from very small children, to ensure their own safety. Remember to regularly check use by dates, replace items as and when you need to and consider having smaller versions of your first aid kit for both the car and holiday travel.

AUTHOR BIO:
Mary has worked in the medical profession for many years and is always encouraging her patients to be prepared for all kinds of emergencies in the home. For help with putting together your own first aid kit, view here.

Make sure your first aid serves its purpose!

Until you really really need it, you often don't even think about having a first aid kit. Having the right first aid kit can save the day in a home or office situation. Apart from that, as a responsible workplace manager you should take care of the welfare of your workers by having first aid at the ready. By adding and subtracting just a few items from your kit you

• If travel or spend a lot of time in the car you should definitely invest in a car kit
• If you are out and about doing fieldwork or outdoor activities, a bumbag might be the best kind of kit for you
• Specialised hiking kits are also available
• Your kit should comprise of a series of basic items like gauze, adhesive tape, eyewash, sterile wipes and gloves as well as a selection of specialised items like burn treatments, depending on the kind of work you do
• You should update your kit every two to three years
• consider buying a separate first aid kit for your kitchen and then one for the rest of the house, as the kitchen is one of the main danger areas in the home
• Make sure you include these items in your kit, these are often forgotten; emergency phone numbers and contact numbers, medical consent forms, the medical history of any family members, sunscreen, a flashlight and candles, a syringe, a medical cup and spoon, an epi pen, and diarrhoea medication.

For more information on first aid, visit First Aid Management.

Why Take First Aid at Work Courses?

If you run a smaller business you might be reluctant to invest in things like first aid at work courses, and might struggle to reconcile the cost of the course with the potential benefits. This is because many of the benefits associated with workplace first aid aren't directly financial, and are more to do with employee health and safety, employee esteem and even efficiency.

On the one hand there is a legal requirement for first aid in the workplace. This covers access to health and safety equipment, e.g. a first aid box, and ensuring that staff are suitably trained in the use of equipment. Accidents happen in all kinds of businesses, from workshops to retail outlets, so first aid is a universal need.

However, first aid is clearly more important in some industries and businesses than others. So, the nature of the course will vary depending on the requirement for first aid. In many businesses, basic first aid will suffice, and will considerably improve the overall health and safety of the working environment.

There are additional benefits to taking health and safety courses. Businesses that offer their employees things like first aid training are showing themselves to be more inclusive and tend to enjoy better relationships with their workforce. This effect is hard to quantify, however it's clear that a more involved workforce will be happier and more productive.

Bio: This guest blog post is written by Webmaster of elas.uk.com, offering First aid at work courses and employment law services!

By: Paul Evans