Although the legal requirements around first aid provision in the education sector vary depending on the type of setting and associated risks, it’s clear that, whether you are a nursery or Early Years provider, primary, secondary school or college, the safety and wellbeing of those in your care will be of the utmost importance.
So what are the key first aid supplies you should ensure are always well stocked up to treat minor accidents and incidents when they do occur?
Cleaning and dressing minor wounds
It’s no surprise that some of the most common injuries requiring treatment in education settings include cuts, grazes and similar accidents. Most of the time, these result from children tripping or falling during play or sport activities, and there are two basic key steps you should follow.
First, the wound should be cleaned to prevent infection, and saline cleansing wipes are the ideal first aid product for that. They allow gentle cleansing with an alcohol-free, low sodium chloride solution, and they’re wrapped individually for maximum convenience. If a form of dressing is then necessary to protect the wound, your first aid kit should contain a variety of adhesive plasters, island dressings and non-adherent dressings. It’s good to have both fabric and washproof, plastic adhesive plasters in your supplies, in a mix of popular sizes so you are covered whatever the size or position of the injured area. Because they’re more stretchy, fabric plasters tend to be more comfortable and fit the contours of the wound better, however washproof plasters will last longer if exposed to water from handwashing, showering etc. Always look out for hypoallergenic, latex-free plasters with a high quality adhesive.
Cold treatment for bumps and sports injuries
Cold therapy is widely used to help reduce the pain and swelling from bumps or sprains, so it’s no wonder that ice packs are such a staple in childcare and education first aid. You can opt for reusable cold packs, which need to be kept in a freezer and can also be microwaved for heat treatment. Instant ice packs, however, do not need chilling and can be stored with your first aid supplies, ready for immediate use in any emergency where cold therapy is called for. All there is to do is squeeze the pack, shake, and apply. Instant ice packs come in various sizes which are suited to different age groups or injuries. For instance, you would choose the smallest ice pack for a bump to a toddler’s forehead, and the largest for an ankle sprain on an older child or young adult.
Effective hygiene and infection control
Body spills such as vomit, blood or urine unfortunately occur fairly frequently, even more so the younger the children in your care are, and you’ll definitely want to get those contained and cleared in a safe and hygienic manner as quickly as possible in order to avoid infection and cross-contamination. That’s why we would suggest both vomit bags for preventative action and absorbent granules which, when sprinkled onto a liquid spill, will not only solidify it but also remove any odours.
Dealing with specific risks
With the more intense, competitive practice of sports in secondary school, sprains may be more frequent or more serious, so you’ll need a range of bandages to support joint injuries in particular.
Likewise, in the event of science lab incidents, you should be prepared to treat, for example, eye contamination from chemicals or particles, or burns from Bunsen burners or hot liquids. Eyewash has to be your go-to for eye irrigation, allowing any debris to be rinsed out safely. You’ll be able to use from a bottle format or handy individual pods – a less wasteful but also more portable option. A specialist burns first aid kit will provide an all-in-one solution for the treatment of minor burns, including burn gel sachets and dressings that you can then replenish. As well as offering immediate relief and rapid cooling, these also encourage faster healing of the wound. Did you know first aid burn gel also worked on sunburn?
Think about outdoor or off-site first aid requirements too. It’s always worth investing in small, compact playground or travel first aid kits that you can keep on hand at break times or for school trips.
You should of course always refer to the latest legislation applying to your specific setting and risk level to check the exact recommended content of your first aid kit – without forgetting to replace used, damaged or out-of-date supplies on a regular basis. You can browse our full range of first aid supplies here.
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Although the legal requirements around first aid provision in the education sector vary depending on the type of setting and associated risks, it’s clear that, whether you are a nursery or Early Years provider, primary, secondary school or college, the safety and wellbeing of those in your care will be of the utmost importance.
So what are the key first aid supplies you should ensure are always well stocked up to treat minor accidents and incidents when they do occur?
Cleaning and dressing minor wounds
It’s no surprise that some of the most common injuries requiring treatment in education settings include cuts, grazes and similar accidents. Most of the time, these result from children tripping or falling during play or sport activities, and there are two basic key steps you should follow.
First, the wound should be cleaned to prevent infection, and saline cleansing wipes are the ideal first aid product for that. They allow gentle cleansing with an alcohol-free, low sodium chloride solution, and they’re wrapped individually for maximum convenience. If a form of dressing is then necessary to protect the wound, your first aid kit should contain a variety of adhesive plasters, island dressings and non-adherent dressings. It’s good to have both fabric and washproof, plastic adhesive plasters in your supplies, in a mix of popular sizes so you are covered whatever the size or position of the injured area. Because they’re more stretchy, fabric plasters tend to be more comfortable and fit the contours of the wound better, however washproof plasters will last longer if exposed to water from handwashing, showering etc. Always look out for hypoallergenic, latex-free plasters with a high quality adhesive.
Cold treatment for bumps and sports injuries
Cold therapy is widely used to help reduce the pain and swelling from bumps or sprains, so it’s no wonder that ice packs are such a staple in childcare and education first aid. You can opt for reusable cold packs, which need to be kept in a freezer and can also be microwaved for heat treatment. Instant ice packs, however, do not need chilling and can be stored with your first aid supplies, ready for immediate use in any emergency where cold therapy is called for. All there is to do is squeeze the pack, shake, and apply. Instant ice packs come in various sizes which are suited to different age groups or injuries. For instance, you would choose the smallest ice pack for a bump to a toddler’s forehead, and the largest for an ankle sprain on an older child or young adult.
Effective hygiene and infection control
Body spills such as vomit, blood or urine unfortunately occur fairly frequently, even more so the younger the children in your care are, and you’ll definitely want to get those contained and cleared in a safe and hygienic manner as quickly as possible in order to avoid infection and cross-contamination. That’s why we would suggest both vomit bags for preventative action and absorbent granules which, when sprinkled onto a liquid spill, will not only solidify it but also remove any odours.
Dealing with specific risks
With the more intense, competitive practice of sports in secondary school, sprains may be more frequent or more serious, so you’ll need a range of bandages to support joint injuries in particular.
Likewise, in the event of science lab incidents, you should be prepared to treat, for example, eye contamination from chemicals or particles, or burns from Bunsen burners or hot liquids. Eyewash has to be your go-to for eye irrigation, allowing any debris to be rinsed out safely. You’ll be able to use from a bottle format or handy individual pods – a less wasteful but also more portable option. A specialist burns first aid kit will provide an all-in-one solution for the treatment of minor burns, including burn gel sachets and dressings that you can then replenish. As well as offering immediate relief and rapid cooling, these also encourage faster healing of the wound. Did you know first aid burn gel also worked on sunburn?
Think about outdoor or off-site first aid requirements too. It’s always worth investing in small, compact playground or travel first aid kits that you can keep on hand at break times or for school trips.
You should of course always refer to the latest legislation applying to your specific setting and risk level to check the exact recommended content of your first aid kit – without forgetting to replace used, damaged or out-of-date supplies on a regular basis. You can browse our full range of first aid supplies here.
