How to Use a First Aid Kit: Tips for Minor Cuts & Wounds
Did you know that legally, even small businesses are required to keep a first aid kit on hand?
What’s in a first aid kit for your workplace varies depending on your industry, but you should at least have the tools to treat minor cuts and wounds.
That being said, having a first aid kit doesn’t do anyone any good if you don’t know how to use a first aid kit. Fortunately, learning how to treat the little things won’t take long.
Let’s get started with this quick and easy guide that will teach you how to treat wounds and cuts that don’t require a visit to the doctor’s office.
Where to Store Your First Aid Kit
It’s important that you keep your first aid kit in a place that is safe and accessible. That means that you should keep all supplies together in an airtight, waterproof container. Then, you should put it somewhere that both you and employees can access, like a cabinet in the break room or a shelf in the supply closet.
How to Use a First Aid Kit for Small Injuries
If you or an employee experiences a minor cut or wound that doesn’t require stitches, you can follow a few simple steps to clean and treat the injury. Before you begin, wash your hands with soap and warm water or use hand sanitizer. You don’t want to get any bacteria in or near the injury.
Once your hands are clean, it’s time to stop the bleeding. Use a piece of gauze or a clean cloth from your first aid kit to apply light pressure to the injury until the bleeding stops. This should not take more than a few minutes if the injury is minor.
Next, you will need to clean the wound. Run cool or lukewarm water over the affected area or use a saline solution to rinse the injury. We do not recommend using soap, hydrogen peroxide, or rubbing alcohol to clean an open cut. If you need to remove any dirt or debris from the wound with tweezers, make sure you disinfect the tweezers with rubbing alcohol, first.
You don’t need to bandage the wound unless it is on an area of the body that is likely to get dirty or that is covered by clothing.
Restocking Your First Aid Kit
Don’t forget that after you use supplies in your first aid kit, you’ll want to restock them! You can find affordable first aid refill supplies online. Remember, your first aid kit is only as useful as the supplies you have in it.
Don’t Just Have the Tools–Possess the Know-How
If you don’t know how to use a first aid kit, keeping one on hand won’t get you very far. We hope that our guide has helped you learn the basics.
There’s no better way to learn the basics about a wide variety of topics than taking the time to read some how-to guides. Take a look around for more how-to’s that will come in handy.
Passionate Writer, Blogger and Amazon Affiliate Expert since 2014.
