How Often Should A First Aid Kit Be Checked?

The official advise from medics is that your first aid kit should be checked once every three months, with the main checks being: review expiry dates, replace used equipment, clean the inside of the box and remind yourself what is in your first aid kit and how to use it. 

Regularly checking your first aid kit is a requirement necessary for both domestic and commercially used first aid kits. It’s important to have a well-stocked first aid kit in your home, workplace and community areas so you can tend to minor accidents and injuries. 

What Should My First Aid Kit Include? 

The NHS advise is that your basic first aid kit should include: 

·     plasters in a variety of different sizes and shapes 

·     small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings 

·     at least 2 sterile eye dressings 

·     triangular bandages 

·     crêpe rolled bandages 

·     safety pins 

·     disposable sterile gloves 

·     tweezers 

·     scissors 

·     alcohol-free cleansing wipes 

·     sticky tape 

·     thermometer (preferably digital) 

·     skin rash cream, such as hydrocortisone or calendula 

·     cream or spray to relieve insect bites and stings 

·     antiseptic cream 

·     painkillers such as paracetamol (or infant paracetamol for children), aspirin (not to be given to children under 16), or ibuprofen 

·     cough medicine 

·     antihistamine cream or tablets 

·     distilled water for cleaning wounds 

·     eye wash and eye bath

·     basic first aid manual or instruction booklet 

We also recommend carrying a torch and spare batteries in your first aid kit, especially for those involved in outdoor pursuits. When checking your first aid kit you should check if your torch is working and ensure that the batteries are fully charged. 

How To Review My First Aid Kit? 

When checking your first aid kit you should review expiry dates, replace used equipment, clean the inside of the box and take a full inventory of your first aid kit and ensure you know how to use the products. 

First aid equipment needs to be kept up-to-date for their medical properties to be effective. Check the expiry dates on all creams, tablets, plasters and wipes to ensure they are in date and safe for use. You should also ensure that the projective equipment on all first aid equipment has not been broken or tampered with as this can compromise the safety product. 

When it comes to reviewing the dressings, bandages and gauze check that their packaging has not been damaged, if so, the product will no longer be sterile and it is not safe for use as it could cause further infection. 

Non-sterile bandages and gauze do not necessarily need to be in protective packaging within your first aid kit, but they still need to be considered during your first aid kit review. Check your bandages and gauze for any signs of damage, discolouration or mildew. If you cannot determine whether or not the product has been compromised, it’s better to be safe and replace the product. 

After reviewing your first aid products, you should then sterilize the first aid kit box or bag, ensuring that the kit is clean and dry before replaying the products. Ensure that the products are neatly returned and that bandages are wrapped into a tight ball to maintain their cleanliness. 

Next, using a first aid manual, video series or booklet, ensure that your own first aid knowledge is sharp. Do you know how to use all the products in the kit? How would you respond to a first aid emergency? Having fresh, precise knowledge is a crucial last step to refreshing your first aid kit – always come prepared. 

For more information on first aid products, don’t hesitate to contact a member of our friendly first aid team on 01686 611 377. Head to our site for a full review of all the necessary first aid kit products and an easy, one-stop-shop solution to replacing all your first aid equipment.  

Written by Laura Mallinson for Morsafe Supplies.