First aid provision is crucial in schools and education environments, from early years environments to higher education. Accidents can happen to anyone on school grounds, whether it’s learners of all ages, staff members, visitors or contractors. Having the right first aid kits and supplies is not only essential for treating injuries, it also shows that your setting is prepared for every eventuality, understands and complies with legal requirements, and - ultimately - cares for the safety and wellbeing of those on their premises.

With legislation, guidelines, and risk factors evolving, it’s worth asking yourself whether your current first aid kits meet all the requirements. Could you respond to a major injury or evacuation event? Are your kits easily accessible during busy school hours or playground use? Have you got school trips and off-site activities covered?

When chocking happens, seconds matter.

According to Office for National Statistics data, approximately 350 people die from choking-related incidents every year in the UK, with young children and older adults most vulnerable. Food is often the cause, but also small objects with children under 5. Responding to choking is a matter of life and death: within minutes, a person can suffer brain damage through lack of oxygen, and they are likely to be dead beyond 10 minutes.

Of course, standard first protocol calls for backs blows and abdominal thrusts … but what if they fail? Adding an anti-choking device such as LifeVac to your first aid equipment provides a simple, non-invasive, quick response to choking emergencies. LifeVac uses a risk-free, one-way valve and suction mechanism, and it can be used on anyone including babies and toddlers, by anyone.

Be prepared for critical injury and mass evacuation.

Martyn’s Law, recently enacted in response to the Manchester Arena bombing of 2017, outlines how organisations should prepare for and respond to mass casualty events. Although it hasn’t come into force yet, the Department for Education is encouraging all settings to take the necessary steps, including equipping their premises with essential, life-saving emergency supplies. Early, pro-active planning will ensure that you have the right kits and packs in place to suit your specific type and size of setting.

Find out more about how Martyn’s Law will affect education settings here.

Fast, easy access is always key.

Many school incidents occur in hard-to-reach areas, for example playgrounds, fields or sports hall. With fast, appropriate action often essential, centrally-located first aid kits can be impractical, so we’d always recommend tailoring your choice of kits with accessibility in mind. Playground first aid kits contained in handy bum bags allow common first aid supplies to be kept within easy reach during outdoor play and breaks. A dedicated sports first aid kit or football first aid kit is ideal for keeping supplies to hand during PE lessons, both indoors and outdoors, or taking along on away match days. Our burns kits and dressings are particularly suited to science labs and food tech classrooms.

Our extensive range of first aid kits is designed to offer coverage for everyday and more complex needs alike, whatever the type of risk and age group. We’re here to help you choose the right combination for classrooms, staff rooms, playgrounds, and on-the-go use.