If you need to respond to a small accident, the first aid kit may be your first resource after calling for help.
Non-fatal injuries in the workplace cause about 11 lost work days and $1,560 per year per worker, according to a 2020 survey published in Injury Prevention.
Here what you should find:
Gauze pads. Large size will be about eight by 10 inches. Smaller pads will be four by four inches.
Adhesive bandages for small injuries.
Triangular bandages.
Wound cleaning agents, possibly a sealed pack of small moist wipes. These should be checked regularly to be sure they are still usable.
Scissors.
A blanket.
Tweezers.
Adhesive tape.
Gloves, latex or latex-free. OSHA requires latex gloves, but vinyl or nitrile gloves protect those with latex allergies.
Resuscitation equipment. A resuscitation bag, airway or pocket mask.
Elastic wraps.
Splint.
Emergency directions.
You might also find a break-open cold pack. If the emergency kit doesn't have one, consider adding it. This can be useful if someone sprains an ankle or incurs another soft tissue injury.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
