First Aid Kit Checklists

This article features:

• what should be in a first aid kit checklist;
• 4 tips on creating the appropriate first aid kit checklist;
• first aid kit contents;
• first aid kit app for thorough inspections; and
• free customizable first aid kit checklists;

What is in a First Aid Kit Checklist?

It varies. There are no strict guidelines for which first aid kit contents should be in every first aid kit checklist. First aid kit checklists should be customized according to the information gathered through job safety analysis and other office hazard assessments to ensure that the right supplies are in the first aid box.

How to Build a Suitable First Aid Kit Checklist For Your Workplace

First aid supplies need to be appropriate to the needs of the workers as deficiency or inaccuracy of contents can worsen a victim’s injury.
To help ensure that first aid supplies are appropriate to your workplace, you can follow best practices to build a customized first aid kit inspection checklist. Here are 4 tips on how to create a suitable checklist for your workplace’s first aid box:

1. Perform office risk assessments to identify first aid needs.
   Risk assessments, an essential feature of office safety, allow the company to have an assessment of hazards, risk levels, employee exposure, and first aid response capabilities. These can help in providing guidance on the appropriate first aid supplies for the workplace.
2. Research on first aid kit maintenance best practices in your country.
   Generally, local safety regulating bodies do not have strict requirements when it comes to what a first box should contain. Instead, custodians can refer to the ideal kit maintenance practices recommended and minimum first aid kit contents in their respective countries to have a better overview of how to build their first aid kit. Here are some of the best practices in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia.
3. Consult with safety experts, management, and workers.
   In addition to research and office risk assessments, it is also helpful to consult with experts and stakeholders to gain more insights into the facilities needed. This consultation can help answer questions on budgets, implementation gaps, and the location where first aid kits are needed.
4. Appoint a specific custodian for first aid kit maintenance.
   It is beneficial to have a specific person responsible for maintaining first aid kit contents. Through this, someone can perform monthly inspections and ensure that supplies are adequate and within their use-by dates.

First Aid Kit Contents

First aid kit contents vary depending on the needs of the business. It should be appropriate to cope with a range of emergency situations an employee would encounter while performing their tasks. It is based on the job safety analysis and risk assessments to identify potential risks and hazards. However, a first aid kit should include the following basic emergency essentials in the first aid kits.

Wraps, Splints, and Wound Coverings

Slips, trips, and falls are the most common physical hazards in the workplace. It is necessary to have wraps, splints, and wound coverings such as adhesive bandages, splint, and gauze pads in the first aid kits to avoid the aggravation of injuries. A gauze pad is a basic tool used to stop bleeding and keep the wounds clean. It can protect the wound from dirt that can cause infection.

Treatments

Treatments including antibiotic cream, antiseptics, and burn cream are used to destroy some types of bacterial infections. It can treat a variety of infections and save a life when used properly. It is necessary to include these in the first aid kit as it can be used to administer minor cuts, burns, and other skin injuries. Also, it is not recommended to include any aspirin or other over-the-counter pain relievers as part of a workplace first aid kit as these are considered medications.

Tools and Supplies

It is important to have ready to use tools and supplies including scissors, tweezers, adhesive tapes, latex gloves, resuscitation equipment, and emergency blankets to easily attend injury treatment. An adhesive tape is used to hold wound bandages in place and scissor is for easy cutting. An emergency blanket is utilized when there is thermal radiation, water evaporation, and convection to prevent body heat loss. Resuscitation equipment such as a resuscitation bag, airway, or pocket mask is used to help a patient who is suffering from difficulty breathing.

First Aid Guide

A first aid guide or first aid manual is a quick-reference instruction of emergency first aid treatment. It provides background information to manage the incident safely and helps assess an injured person. It provides information on how to use the items in a first-aid kit.

First Aid Kit Checklist

A first aid kit checklist is a tool used to log the first aid kit contents. It helps monitor the expiration dates and inventory of stocks. It is used to identify the items that need to be replaced or replenished.

Customized and Thorough First Aid Kit Inspections with iAuditor

With the help of iAuditor by SafetyCulture digital first aid kit checklists, you can easily record first aid kit contents, schedule regular inspections, and identify items that need to be replaced. Use this first aid app for inspections to:

• Schedule monthly inspections and automate reminder notifications
• Easily see recurring depleted items and replenish them quicker
• Monitor expiring first aid kit contents and ensure they are replaced by the use-by date
• List down the number of employees and their work description.
• Provide graphic evidence of first aid kit contents and attach photos.
• Attach guide photos to help familiarize custodians with how supplies look like.
• Remain compliant with internal safety programs and be able to provide solid evidence of diligent first aid kit inspections
• Sign off first aid inspection checklists for cross-checking