What to include in your first aid kit
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
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Posted by: Dairy Calf & Heifer Association
After a small, and
somewhat funny, incident the other day on a friend's farm, I realized it
might be a good idea to write a tip about what should be included in a
first aid kit. A worker at the farm needed a Band-Aid, but the ones in
the first aid kit were either too old or had been exposed to heat and
cold so long that they were no longer adhesive. He ended up with a
"SpongeBob" Band-Aid from the house.
Because workplaces vary
widely in their degree of hazards, location, size, amount of staff
training and availability of professional medical services, OSHA
standards do not require specific first-aid-kit contents (with the
exception of their Logging Operations standard).
Here's a list of basic
first aid items that will provide a basic range of products to deal with
most types of injuries encountered in the workplace. You may want to
evaluate your own workplace to determine whether additional supplies are
needed.
Workplace First Aid Kits Supplies
- Absorbent compresses, 4 in. x 8 in. size
- Adhesive bandages, 1 in. x 3 in. size
- Adhesive tape, 3/8 in. x 2.5 yd. - quantity 1 roll
- Antibiotic treatment
- Antiseptic treatment (Spray, liquid, swabs, wipes or towelettes)
- Burn treatment (Spray treatments can also be used. For use on minor burns only!)
- First-aid guide
- Medical exam gloves
- Sterile pads, 3 in. x 3 in. size
- Triangular bandage, 40 in. x 40 in. x 56 in.
Optional items and sizes
may be added to the basic contents listed above to augment a first-aid
kit, based on the specific hazards existing in your operation. Some
additional items you may want to include:
- Analgesic (should contain no ingredients that are known to cause drowsiness)
- Bandage compress(es) in sizes 2 in. x 2 in., 3 in. x 3 in. or 4 in. x 4 in.
- Burn dressing(s) at least 12 sq. in.
- Cold pack(s) at least 4 x 5 in.
- Eye covering(s)
- Eye/skin wash
- Hand sanitizer with a minimum of 61% ethyl alcohol
- Roller bandage(s) at least 2 in. wide and at least 4 yds. long, unstretched and individually packaged
For more first aid kit recommendations, visit the OSHA website.
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