What are the most vital medical supplies to keep in your first aid kit?

Maintaining a well-equipped first aid kit is crucial to ensure the health and safety of all. Whether you run a small office or a large organization, or whether you’re attending a large gathering such as a concert or festival, having the right medical supplies readily available can make a significant difference in providing immediate care during emergencies. In this blog post, we will explore the most vital medical supplies to include in your first aid kit, enabling you to be prepared for various incidents and potentially save lives.

Firstly, let’s look at why its key to have life-saving medical supplies to hand

Almost every day, we see and hear how civilians have suffered military style injuries following a deliberate attack or accident. Public spaces such as transport hubs and subways, entertainment venues and festivals, schools and workplaces all have large gatherings of people in one area, bringing vulnerability. It’s absolutely essential for places with large gatherings to have point-of-injury access to medical supplies such as bleeding control, as this is one of the top causes of pre-hospital fatalities.

Here is a list of recent terrible incidents that have occurred over the past few years that have resulted in many tragic fatalities:

• Ariana Grande Manchester Arena Attack
• Las Vegas Strip mass shooting
• Astroworld Crowd Surge Incident
• Oslo mass shooting during Pride month 2022
• Buffalo Grocery Store mass shooting
• Robb Elementary school shooting
• Monterey Park Dance studio shooting

A list of vital medical supplies for your kit:

Bandages and Sterile Dressings

These are vital items to keep in your kit, due to their versatility. These items serve as protective coverings for wounds, preventing contamination and promoting healing. Sterile dressings are particularly important for more substantial wounds that require better protection. Ensure you stock a variety of sizes to accommodate different injuries, such as large abdominal bandages and 4/6” bandages:

Abdominal trauma bandage: a pressure dressing providing hemorrhage control for abdominal and large extremity wounds in pre-hospital emergency care. The integrated large 12" x 12" non-stick pad makes this pressure dressing an ideal solution for managing massive wounds. It delivers a one-step fast application of the pressure dressing, eliminating the need for separate gauze pads and elastic wraps.

4/6” bandages: simple and effective pressure dressings providing hemorrhage control in pre-hospital emergency care situations. Our pressure dressings incorporate a non-stick pad affixed to the bandage, delivering a one-step fast application of the pressure dressing, eliminating the need for separate gauze pads and elastic wraps.

Disposable Gloves

Ensuring the safety of both the responder and patient is paramount when providing first aid in a business setting. Disposable medical gloves act as a barrier between the responder's hands and bodily fluids, minimizing the risk of contamination and the spread of infections. Opt for latex-free gloves to accommodate those with latex allergies. It is essential to have an ample supply of disposable gloves in your first aid kit, ensuring safe and hygienic care during medical emergencies. Better still, you could have a kit which has all of the above included such as our bleeding control pouch, which we will go into further down.

Medical Tools

Having versatile medical tools readily available is vital for businesses to handle a range of medical situations. Tweezers are essential for removing foreign objects, such as splinters or glass shards, from the skin. Scissors can be used to cut adhesive tape, clothing, or gauze: an ideal choice would be the Piranha Trauma Shears as they can cut through the softest materials to the toughest, making them an all-rounder vital medical supply. Including these tools in your first aid kit enables efficient management of minor injuries and basic medical procedures.

Bleeding Control Kit

Out of many injuries that can cause major trauma or potential death, bleeding should be a top priority to treat. That’s why having access to bleeding control supplies is essential in all places that have large gatherings. At TyTek Medical we have prioritized point-of-injury bleeding control access such as the use of pouches or stations. Our bleeding control pouches were designed to wear on your belt or keep in your vehicle allowing full mobility when it is needed most – In the event of a catastrophic bleed. The kits are packed for speed of access: take a look here what is included. 

Building a comprehensive first aid kit for businesses or venues with large gatherings is essential to safeguard the health and safety of all those in attendance. By including the above medical supplies, places with large gatherings can effectively address health-related incidents and emergencies. Regularly review and replenish your medical supplies, discard expired items, and tailor your kit to suit the specific needs and risks associated with your environment. You should never underestimate the power of medical education too, so check out our hub of videos and explainers as well as attending a STOP THE BLEED® online or in-person course to gain the correct skills and become confident in case of a medical emergency: find a course here. 

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