Check your kit

Hopefully not very often to treat someone’s injuries, but what about to check its contents?

Our procedure requires regular checks to be made to ensure the contents are kept topped up and in date, it’s no good remembering you meant to get new large wound dressings when someone has a large wound that needs dressing.

Several items in the first aid kit have a specified shelf life. There are several reasons for these dates, including the material degrading allowing microfibres to be released into wounds and your body’s system. On a recent site visit we found a bandage with an expiry date from when shoulder pads and frizzy perms were in fashion.

Whilst it isn’t a good record to hold, that certainly is the most out of date we have seen still out on site.