What is your first aid kit is missing?

A first aid kit is one of the most important necessities for any environment, whether that be the home, your workplace, school, or while travelling. However, many first aid kits are missing crucial items needed for a real emergency. The Health and Safety Executive gives excellent guidance on what should be in a compliant first aid kit within a UK workplace, however preparing and stocking your kit is far more than only ticking off a checklist. When building up a first aid kit, you should ask yourself, is this first aid kit actually ready to save a life?

The evolution of the first aid kit:

The history of portable medical supplies can be traced back to the challenges faced by early industrial workers, specifically railway workers in the late 19th century, who often gained injuries a great distance away from established medical facilities. One of the founders of Johnson & Johnson, Robert Wood Johnson, witnessed these injuries firsthand, which led to the groundbreaking creation of packaged medical supplies that a working team of individuals could keep on hand for an emergency. By gathering information from railway surgeons about the most needed first aid supplies, the production of the first modern commercial first aid kits specifically for railroad companies began in 1888.

Today in the UK, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) gives guidelines for minimum first aid kit contents, which usually includes items such as general guidance leaflet, assorted sterile plasters, sterile eye pads, triangular bandages, safety pins, large and medium-sized sterile wound dressings, and disposable gloves, of which are all contained in our HSE 1-10 person workplace first aid kit. While meeting the HSE minimum requirements is legally sufficient for a lot of workplaces, a more robust and recommended approach is provided by the British Standard BS8599-1 Workplace First Aid Kit. This standard has a far more thorough assessment of needs and requirements. This first aid kit has additional items that go beyond the basic HSE list, such as burn dressings, conforming bandages, foil blankets, microporous tape, resuscitation face shields, scissors, and saline wipes.  

While the law states that a first aid kit does not have to meet the British Standard, it highly recommends checking that the kit contains what has been identified in a needs assessment. This very subtle legal phrasing can lead to a potential pitfall, as some individuals or organisations may interpret "doesn't have to meet the British standard" as confirmation to stock the bare minimum requirements of first aid supplies. However, the emphasis on a "needs assessment" pushes the idea of a more comprehensive first aid kit that is compliant with BS8599-1. This means that many workplace first aid kits, and home first aid kits, are legally compliant but practically are under equipped for a range of incidents, especially injuries involving burns, shock, or more complex wound and bleeding management. 

What should be in a first aid kit - and what is often missing?

According to the HSE approved contents list, a compliant workplace first aid kit includes sterile dressings, bandages, disposable gloves and a general guidance leaflet. But in the real world, injuries may demand more than the basics, especially in more dangerous workplaces.

For example, most first aid kits do not contain burn dressings, even when burns are a common workplace injury for that environment. Likewise, tuff cut scissors, foil blankets, and CPR face shields are missing from many first aid kits, but are very important for life threatening emergencies. A trauma kit can offer the missing tools needed for these injuries and situations, to offer first aid support before emergency services are able to arrive.

When assessing your first aid kit contents, ask yourself: what is missing that could really make a difference?

Life saving additions for severe trauma

While regular wound dressings are enough for minor cuts, they may be insufficient for managing severe bleeding, which continues to be a leading cause of preventable death in trauma related incidents. This is where advanced wound care becomes clear and essential, moving beyond basic bandages to life saving trauma dressings.

The power of trauma dressings

For severe blood loss emergencies, trauma dressings are a huge upgrade to any first aid kit. These are not just a larger version of standard dressings, but are specifically designed to be thicker, more durable, and highly absorbent, to control excessive bleeding and keep direct pressure on wounds. They can withstand pressure and movement, keeping the dressing intact and securely in place during emergency situations, which is very important when the individual may need to be moved. The ability of the trauma dressings able to absorb heavy bleeding and keep good wound compression makes them crucial in managing major bleed trauma. While not required by the HSE, a bleed control kit can make a huge difference in saving lives, specifically in work places where the risk of a related emergency is high, such as factories, farms and construction sites.

Haemostatic agents and tourniquets

With a severe bleeding emergency, direct pressure alone may be insufficient. Haemostatic agents can change that. Haemostatic agents come in various forms, sizes and shapes, such as haemostatic dressings and celox granules. Essentially, these agents work by rapidly accelerating the body's natural blood clotting process. They contain chemicals that imitate or improve the body's clotting factors, which allows for a much faster clot formation, typically within minutes of applying. They have been proven to be incredibly efficient in combat and emergency response care, where major bleeding is common, which has led to their increasing inclusion in civilian first aid settings and kits.  

When bleeding is severe from a limb injury, a tourniquet is a life saving device. Tourniquets are made to completely stop or significantly slow bleeding in a limb, therefore buying critical time for a professional medical response team to arrive. The immediate control of severe bleeding is highly important in preventing hypovolemic shock, organ damage, and ultimately, saving lives, which is far beyond what basic first aid, or a basic first aid kit, can achieve. Furthermore, a tourniquet should only ever be removed by trained medical professionals in a controlled environment. A training tourniquet is an excellent way to master the application of a tourniquet, especially when used in conjunction with a first aid training torso.These emergency supplies are crucial in first aid kits for workplaces and environments where these injuries could happen.

Common yet critical injuries

As well as severe trauma, first aid must also address common but critical injuries that can have terrible consequences if not managed correctly and accurately. 

Advanced burn care solutions

Burns are very common injuries in the UK, with an estimated 250,000 people getting burn injuries annually, with approximately 175,000 of these individuals attending A & E departments, and a further approximate of 16,000 of those individuals being admitted to hospitals for specialised burn care. While cool running water will always be the primary first aid for minor burns, the application of cool running water can be limited in certain situations, such as a mass casualty event or a lack of clean water in that specific environment. In these situations, burn gels and burn dressings are highly effective replacements. These gels and dressings are often water based, usually containing up to 96% water, and operate by dissipating heat through evaporation, which not only helps to cool the burn but can also soothe pain and give a sterile barrier against contamination.  

Protecting your vision with eye wash

Whether being from chemical splashes, dust, or small debris, eye injuries can happen unexpectedly and can escalate to long lasting damage, even when the injury is minor, without prompt and appropriate treatment. Eye wash solution plays an indispensable and crucial role in first aid. These solutions, typically 0.9% Sodium Chloride saline, are much superior to tap water due to their high level of sterility. The importance of immediate access to eye wash cannot be overstated, especially in workplaces or environments with chemical hazards, but also for home first aid kits and car first aid kits, where everyday incidents could potentially lead to eye irritation or even contamination. Eye wash gives fast pain relief to the eye and can significantly reduce the likelihood of additional damage, infection or permanent vision loss.

The emphasis on burn gels for situations where running water may be impossible, impractical or even dangerous and eye wash for workplaces requiring eye wash highlights that the best first aid kit is highly context based. For example, a builder working on a new house wouldn’t have easy access to running water, and therefore would need these supplies on hand if they were to have dust or chemicals spilt into their eyes, or a burn to the skin.

Environmental and health essentials

First aid extends far beyond physical injuries. Preparedness for environmental challenges and common, yet possibly severe, illnesses is crucial, as the broader scope of first aid acknowledges that emergencies can happen from a wide range of circumstances.

The role of foil blankets and instant ice packs

The most effective first aid typically involves managing the body's response to environmental and weather conditions. Foil blankets, also known as a space blanket, are highly compact, lightweight emergency blankets capable of retaining over 90% of the body’s natural heat. They are very important in preventing hypothermia and shock, not only in extremely cold weather but also in situations such as being stranded on the road in severe rain or wind. They work by trapping the wearer's body heat through reflection, which is important in situations such as shock where a drop in body temperature is bound to happen.  

Instant ice packs are portable devices for instant cold therapy without the need for refrigerating. They are important for managing sprains, strains, swelling, and sometimes even soothing insect bites or sunburn. These ice packs contain two chemicals that mix by squeezing; creating a reaction that instantly lowers the temperature of the pack for approximately 20 minutes. This rapid cooling effect is important in the early stages of injuries, helping to alleviate the pain and stop further tissue damage by constricting blood vessels. These are essential additions to any hiking first aid kit, sports first aid kit or travel first aid kit, where sprains and strains may be common.

Tools of preparedness: Precision and protection

Effective first aid isn’t just storing medical items like bandages, but also being prepared by stocking essential tools that are protective measures to safely enable the efficient and accurate application of medical items. 

Tough cut scissors and digital thermometers

Tough/Tuff cut scissors are important in a range of emergency scenarios. These highly versatile, durable safety scissors allow for the quick and safe removal of clothing or seatbelts to access wounds and fractures without risking any additional injury to the individual. They are designed to prioritise safety, meaning they can cut through tough materials while completely minimising the risk of cutting the skin accidentally. 

Equally important for effective first aid assessment is a digital thermometer, which highly accurately assesses body temperature, which can be a key indicator of illness, infection, or heat related conditions. A digital non-contact thermometer is a growingly popular choice for home first aid ever since Covid-19 became a discussed issue; due to their high level of accuracy and speed, giving readings instantly. These devices are vital for responders, so they can assess a situation quickly and effectively.

The public access defibrillator (AED)

The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a crucial device for public places or high risk environments and workplaces for sudden cardiac arrest. An AED is made to be user friendly, giving clear verbal and visible instructions that can guide a bystander or trained professional through the process, and are capable of delivering a life saving electrical shock to restore a normal heart rhythm. The urgency of AED usage in a sudden cardiac arrest cannot be overstated: for every minute that someone is in cardiac arrest without receiving CPR and defibrillation, their chance of survival decreases by 10%. This alarming statistic highlights the profound importance and assistance an AED can truly have. 

Disposable gloves, wipes, and CPR face shields

A highly important aspect of effective first aid is keeping a good level of hygiene, as well as barrier protection. Disposable gloves are crucial for protecting both the first aider and the individual from infections and cross contamination during wound treatment or even examination. It is recommended to use nitrile gloves or vinyl gloves over latex options due to the risk of allergic reactions to latex. Furthermore, alcohol free wipes are very important when it comes to cleaning minor wounds and keeping optimal hygiene standards.  

Finally, CPR face shields act as a hygienic barrier for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. These simple, low cost devices give a physical barrier between the individual and rescuer, which greatly minimises the risk of cross contamination and helps to overcome any hesitation from the rescuer. The addition of tuff cut scissors, digital thermometers, disposable gloves, wipes, and CPR face shields illustrates that effective first aid is not just the medical items themselves, but also the tools that allow their safe and efficient use, and the protective measures that protect both the individual and the first aider.

What should be in a school first aid kit?

Children are naturally curious, and accidents are highly likely to happen throughout their childhood. From playground tumbles to sports injuries, schools face a diverse set of first aid challenges. Under UK law, all schools are required to comply with HSE regulations as well as the Department for Education guidance on health and safety.

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 may include 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 and burn dressings or burn gel for minor scalds or burns, as well as other first aid supplies. We recommend our blog regarding the topic to learn more about what your school first aid kit should look like.

What should be in an office first aid kit?

Offices are considered to be low risk environments under HSE classification, but there are still risks nonetheless. Paper cuts and RSI are not the only common issues, as staff can suffer from slips, trips, allergic reactions, or possibly even cardiac events.

A standard HSE 1-10 person first aid kit may be sufficient, however, it could be worth upgrading to a BS 8599-1 compliant kit that includes eyewash pods, foil blankets, antiseptic wipes, and sterile eye wash. Another thing to think about is that more people now tend to experience stress and anxiety related symptoms at work, so it could be important to include a mental health first aid to some degree, whether that be a mental health poster, or trained professional with a visible mental health first aider badge that supports mental wellbeing in conjunction with physical first aid.

What should be in a construction and industrial workplace first aid kit?

Construction sites and industrial workplaces are some of the highest risk workplaces in the UK. With heavy machinery, sharp tools, electrical equipment, and height related work, they demand more advanced first aid assessments.

In these sectors, a bleed control kit could be potentially life saving. A bleed kit contains essential trauma dressings and pressure applicators made to handle catastrophic haemorrhage before emergency services are able to arrive. A standard first aid box is also important, and should be weather resistant, dustproof, and easily visible.

It is crucial that the first aid kits and supplies are checked often and restocked when used or expired. Some employers tend to overlook the importance of expiry dates, but using expired sterile items can often lead to infection or further complications.

Travel, hiking and vehicle first aid kits

Whether you are hiking the Lake District or heading down the M1, being prepared on the go is very important. A travel first aid kit or vehicle first aid kit should be highly compact but stocked with essential items. It must also account for the limited access to emergency services; as depending on your environment, it could be much added time before a response team is able to get to you or the injured individual.

Falls, cuts, sprains, insect bites, and blisters may seem minor at first, but if left untreated, they can escalate into something much worse. A pocket first aid kit with blister plasters, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, and adhesive tape can be a hiker’s most important piece of gear. Dog owners should also consider a dog first aid kit for accidents on hikes and walks where getting to a vet isn’t easy.

What should be in a home first aid kit?

Despite being considered a safe, low risk environment, the home is where most accidents tend to happen. Burns from cooking, slips in the bathroom, cuts from DIY tasks all require immediate attention.

A home first aid kit should be stored in an easily, quickly accessible location, ideally in the kitchen or hallway. It should also store plasters, antiseptic creams, conforming bandages, and safety pins. It is important to think about your family's specific needs: are there children in the house? Do any members have allergies? Chronic illnesses or conditions? Your kit should reflect those needs and requirements.

It can be helpful to have a first aid kit checklist handy and to do regular checks to make sure everything is in-date, available and unopened.

A first aid kit is more than just a box on the wall…

What you put into your first aid kit, and how often you check and update it, could make a life saving difference. Whether you are managing risk in an office, scaling mountains, or keeping your family safe at home, the contents of your first aid kit should reflect your environment, responsibilities, and risks.

We supply fully compliant, high quality first aid kits and first aid supplies made for a wide range of settings. Review what is missing from your kit. Upgrade where needed. Train your team. The time to prepare is now, not when an emergency is already unfolding. The right first aid supplies don’t just help, they protect, support, and save lives.