Under state and territory legislation, first aid kits must be kept in the workplace. Various state and territory regulations may stipulate appropriate contents of a first aid kit because codes of practice or guidelines on first aid issues are part of Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) requirements.
A decision on the exact type and contents of a first aid kit takes into consideration the likelihood of situations that could occur and require the provision of first aid. For example: trauma kits at surf lifesaving clubs for shark or crocodile attacks, special event kits for sports carnivals, occupational first aid kits for the office and basic first aid kits in lifesaver bum bags for roving patrols. Other factors to consider include the distance from medical or hospital services, time taken to reach that service, number of people normally at the location and the number of first aid qualified personnel usually available.
Taking guidance from Safe Work Australia’s model code of practice for first aid in the workplace notes, first aid kits in SLS clubs should include:
- a list of the contents for that kit
- first aid manual including a resuscitation chart
- notebook and pen
- bandages
- roller bandages in a range of sizes that may be made from cotton or elasticised crepe
- triangular bandages
- dressings
- adhesive dressings in a range of sizes—plastic or fabric (those with a dressing patch and adhesive cover)
- combine pad
- non-adherent dressings
- instruments
- scissors
- shears
- tweezers/forceps
- other
- adhesive dressing tape
- antiseptic liquid/spray
- disposable gloves
- disposable vomit bags
- emergency thermal blanket
- eye pad
- face shield
- gauze squares
- hand sanitiser
- instant heat packs
- instant ice packs
- safety pins
- saline solution
- sealable plastic bags
- sharps container
- single-use pocket resuscitation mask with oxygen inlet
- splinter probe
- vinegar (tropical areas)
- wound cleaning wipes.
Note: A first aid kit at your SLS club may also contain some medications allowed as per your local state/territory legislation, e.g., asthma inhaler, EpiPen®, aspirin.