Most workplaces have a first aid kit, but in many cases the regular checks and updates needed to ensure it is safe to use are not always carried out, reports first aid kit supplier Aero Healthcare UK. The medical recommendation is that a workplace first aid kit should be fully reviewed and checked every three months.
HSE requirements state that a workplace, regardless of there being one person or one thousand, requires an appointed person to be in charge of all first aid arrangements. This includes the quarterly first aid inventory check. The review should ensure that all products are within their expiry date, are well organised and easy to see for quick emergency use and that any used equipment is replaced.
Aero Healthcare stresses that the majority of plasters and bandages lose their adhesiveness as they move towards their expiry date, and when out of date are not guaranteed to be sterile. The company also recommends cleaning a first aid kit box to prevent ongoing contamination.
