Support Material - First Aid

Another OH & S consideration is the use of first aid if a worker is hurt. Larger offices will have a designated first aid officer who will be trained in basic first aid. They will also be the contact person in the organisation if there is an emergency.

In schools, the first aid officer might be an office assistant or a teacher, who has the required training. A first aid kit is kept on hand for emergencies.

The contents of a first aid kit used in the workplace are covered by regulations in each State & Territory. St John Ambulance Australia recommend the following:-

The contents of the kit should be regularly checked for-

• cleanliness
• packets are properly sealed
• the expiry date has not been exceeded
• previously used items have been replaced
  

The first aid officer is only involved in the application of BASIC first aid. It is likely in most cases they will follow organisational procedures and refer the person to a doctor/hospital.

Here are some items that would be kept in a first aid kit:

• Bandages eg triangular, conforming bandages (of varying widths)
• Dressings eg non-adherent, wound dressings,
• adhesive shapes
• Pads eg- combines pads, 4 eye pads
• Swabs eg gauze, alcohol
• Other eg scissors, saline eyewash, safety pins, plastic bags, tweezers, thermo blanket, not pad & pencil, disposable gloves

General Purpose First Aid Kit
1	First Aid Box with Handle		10 unit
1	3M Durapore Tape		2" X 36"
8	Alcohol Prep Wipes		Prep Pad
6	Benzalkonium Chloride		Prep Pads
8	Sting Stop		Prep Pad
6	Wet Nap Moist Towelettes		Prep Pad
24	Fabric Bandage Strip		7/8" X 3"
1	First Aid Cream Cetrimide		25g
1	Tweezer Economy		Nickle Plated
4	Gauze Pads Sterile 12 ply		3" X 3"
2	Non Adherent Gauze Pads		3" X 4"
2	Vinyl Gloves		L
1	Conforming Gauze		2" X 5yds
1	Stretch Bandages		2"
1	Triangular Bandage		40 X 40 X 56
6	Safety Pins
1	Economy Scissor		Nickle Plated
1	Pocket Guide to First Aid
2	Elastoplast Finger Tip		Reg
2	Elastoplast Bandages		Knuckle
6	Plastic Bandage		Spot
6	Plastic Bandage		Mini
1	Elastoplast Bandages Patch		2" X 3"
6	Latex Finger Cots		M
1	Instant Cold Pack		4" X 6 "

Below are 2 kits from St John Ambulance Australia. The “B” kit is designed specifically for the workplace.

They can also prepare kits to suit the needs of a particular workplace.

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