Keep your first aid kit at the ready

At many companies, the first kit is often overlooked but always expected when minor accidents happen.

Band-aids seem to disappear first but other supplies also can vanish quicker than you think. Put a regular reminder in your calendar to make sure that your first aid kit is fully equipped and ready when you most need it.

Make sure first-aid supplies at your workplace are appropriate to:

• Your occupational setting. Some of you would be OK with an off-the-shelf kit, while the auto group should look at something a bit more robust with items that better fit what could happen in the garage.
• The response time of your emergency medical services.  We suggest a larger kit if it takes more than 10 minutes for EMT/EMS to arrive.
• An advisable ratio of one kit for every 15 employees

Make sure that first-aid supplies are:

• Easily accessible to all your employees
• Stored in containers that protect them from damage, deterioration, or contamination. Containers must be clearly marked, not locked, and may be sealed.
• Able to be moved to the location of an injured or acutely ill worker

Also remember that if you are over five minutes from EMT/EMS service to your store, you need to have a person on staff who is trained in first aid when employees are present.

To assist you with creating a kit, a checklist can be found in RS Safety Library in the forms section in the left margin. WR Safety Specialist Rick Means is available to members to help draw up safety plans and suggest topics for safety meetings. Contact him at 360-943-9198 x18, or [email protected]