What needs to be in your school first aid kit:

Within a school, keeping pupils safe and healthy is a major priority. Whether in a primary school, secondary school, nursery, special education facility or even co-corricular education facility, having a well-stocked and HSE compliant school first aid kit is essential. But what exactly should be inside it?

What should a school first aid kit contain under UK law?

While there is no strict legal list of specific items under the UK law, the HSE gives clear recommendations for the supplies of workplace first aid kits, including schools. Ideally, you should match your kit and first aid supplies to your school’s needs; taking into account the number of pupils, types of activities, and any known medical conditions within the school.

A common school first aid kit includes:

• Sterile dressings and plasters (in assorted sizes).
• Bandages and gauze for wound care and bleeding.
• Eye wash solution and eye pads for treating eye injuries.
• Antiseptic wipes and gloves to prevent infection.
• Scissors, tweezers, and safety pins for various uses.
• Foil blankets for treating shock or hypothermia.
• Burn dressings or burn gel for minor scalds or burns.

We advise storing multiple first aid kits in key access points, including classrooms, playgrounds, kitchens/cafeterias, as well as sports halls.

Extra considerations for schools

Schools tend to face unique challenges beyond standard accidents like slips and trips, including:

• Sports injuries
• Allergic reactions
• Minor burns
• Trips and falls during playtime

To cover these potential injuries, many schools tend to have a sports first aid kit and a burns first aid kit.

Where should school first aid kits be stored?

Accessibility and visibility are the most important things when it comes to having first aid kits in your school. First aid kits should be:

• Clearly labelled and identifiable
• Easy to access in an emergency
• Kept in a dry, clean and well-lit environment
• Regularly checked and restocked

School accident duplicate books: What are they and why are they important?

While having a first aid kit is highly important in schools, it is also essential to record what happens when the kit is used for an injury, illness or emergency.

School accident books are an easy solution for recording these incidents. This specialised accident book allows staff to document:

• The nature of the injury
• How it was treated
• The date and time of the incident
• Who administered first aid
• Whether parents or emergency services were contacted

The school accident book duplicate can also help your school to stay compliant with RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) and the UK Data Protection Act, as it contains a duplicate sheet that gives a record for both the school and the parent/guardian.

A well recorded school accident book can:

• Protect you and your school in the event of legal claims.
• Help identify patterns of recurring accidents or sickness.
• Assist in risk assessments and help towards improving your school’s safety procedures.

These school accident duplicate books are not just a record book, they are also a crucial part of your safeguarding or health and safety strategy.

Staff and student training

Having first aid supplies is only part of having a safer environment; first aid training is even more important to make sure that the equipment is used effectively and correctly. In the UK, schools are highly encouraged to give first aid training to staff, and in some cases, it can help to give students basic first aid training too.

Training in first aid can make sure that in an emergency, staff and students know exactly how to handle the situation safely and effectively. Whether performing CPR, using an Epi-Pen, or managing a minor injury calmly and effectively. We sell a range of first aid training packs and products to assist in staff and child first aid training, including the Prestan child CPR manikin, as well as the Epi-Pen training injector.

Whether you are restocking your school first aid supplies or creating a new kit from scratch, it is very important to make sure everything you include is compliant, accessible, and appropriate for the age group and environment of your school. If you need help or advice on building your school first aid kit, feel free to contact our team at Jax First Aid, where we can help you find the right products for your school, with fast UK delivery and expert support.