First-Rate First Aid: Additional Products to Stock in Your Office Kit

It's important to have a well-stocked first aid kit in your business premises for a whole variety of reasons — but people may disagree on what constitutes 'well-stocked'. To some, it means a couple of bandages and sterile wipes; to others, you also need burn dressings, safety pins and foil blankets. The latter falls more in line with the standard for commercial first aid kits, but there are still plenty of things you could add to make it more efficient. Here are a few ideas.

Saline Eyedrops

Of course, these should only be available over-the-counter; you don't need any medication versions of these. They may simply come in handy if somebody suffers an eye injury, helping to reduce soreness and allow an employee to be more comfortable as the swelling goes down. They may also be useful for employees with hay fever during high-pollen days.

Hypoallergenic Adhesive Strips

Simple plasters and bandages may be useful for some wounds and injuries, but they're notoriously difficult to keep adhered in some places such as the hands or wrists. Equally, if you have an employee with an allergy to sticking plasters, they're totally unusable. Having adhesive strips to replace the traditional sticking plasters in these circumstances is a wise decision. They may also be more comfortable for your staff to wear.

Glucose Tablets

Especially if anybody in the office is diabetic, these glucose tablets are extremely helpful in case of low blood sugar. They can also prevent fainting if anybody becomes light-headed. Just be sure to retain the packaging so that it's clear how much is in each individual dose.

Epinephrine

Sometimes known as an epi-pen, epinephrine is actually adrenaline. It's used to treat allergy sufferers going through anaphylaxis, and also during cardiac arrest. It should only be used in emergencies, but if anybody in the workplace does have an allergy, it's a good idea to be prepared with this in stock. It could easily save a life.

Even if your office environment is very safe and secure, it's impossible to completely remove risk. Keeping the above items in your first aid kit will help to ready your office for every eventuality, above and beyond the few simple bandages and sticking plasters your standard kit may provide. Of course, nobody likes to think about these unpleasant accidents happening, but it's much better to be prepared for them than to assume they're not going to happen.

For more information on hypoallergenic adhesive strips, contact your local manufacturer.