Ensure Casualty Feels Safe, Secure and Supported Obtain Consent Use Available Resources and Equipment to Make the Casualty as Comfortable as Possible

There are several things you can do to ensure your casualty feels safe and secure.

• The first thing is to ensure you explain everything you are doing to the casualty and answer any questions they may have as truthfully as you can. Always ensure you refrain from giving a diagnosis to them. This should be left to the medical experts
• Do not leave the casualty except under the most serious circumstances
• Avoid asking irrelevant questions and try to get important information such as name, address and who needs to be informed
• Obtain their consent for anything you may do; if possible. This consent should come from the casualty where possible but also from caregiver, medical practitioner or medical services
• Hold the casualty's hand while talking to them
• Always act in a calm manner to give them confidence, even if you are frightened
• You may need to give physical support, in the case of bleeding etc
• Do not stare at a conscious casualty
• Try to screen the casualty from staring eyes
• Make sure the casualty's clothing is covering them. If not find something to cover them with
• Keep the casualty warm

Operate first aid equipment according to manufacturer's instructions

A first aid kit should be properly stocked and available at all times in the home, car and at work. Contents should include basic items such as bandages, dressings, tapes, a thermal blanket, gloves, resuscitation masks and other items to meet your needs. A first aid course can help you understand how to use your first aid kit.

Your first aid kit should be organised, properly stocked and available at all times. It's a good idea to have a first aid kit in various locations such as at home, in the car and at work. You can buy first aid kits from your pharmacy or from providers such as St John Ambulance Australia (Victoria). Specialty kits are also available to meet specific needs.

Contents of a basic first aid kit

First aid kit contents vary according to their particular use. For example, a first aid kit for a farm will contain a few different items to a first aid kit for a city-dwelling family.

A basic first aid kit should contain:

• Triangular bandages
• Crepe ('conforming' or elastic) bandages of varying widths
• Non-adhesive (non-stick) dressings of varying sizes
• Disposable gloves (medium and large), preferably made of non-latex material
• Thermal blanket
• Notepad and pencil
• Plastic bags of varying sizes
• Adhesive tape (2.5 cm wide - preferably a permeable tape such as Micropore)
• Resuscitation mask or face shield

Other equipment can include:

• Medium combine dressing pads (9 x 20 cm)
• Large combine dressing pads (20 x 20 cm)
• Adhesive dressing strips (band aids)
• Medium gauze dressing (7.5 x 7.5 cm)
• Four sterile tubes of saline solution (minimum 10 ml)
• One pair of scissors
• One pair of tweezers
• First aid booklet

Medications in first aid kits

The First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice advises that first aid kits for workplaces should not contain medications. First aid is defined as the provision of emergency treatment and life support for people suffering injury or illness. The dispensing of medication does not generally fall within this definition. It is recommended that medicines are not kept in a first aid kit. If you keep medicines for yourself or your family, such as paracetamol and aspirin for pain relief, they should be kept secure and out of reach of children.

Storing your first aid kit

Storage suggestions include:

• Keep the first aid kit in a dry, cool location
• Make sure the first aid kit is easily accessible and that everyone in the family knows where it is
• Some items, such as solutions, may have use-by dates. Check regularly and replace when necessary
• If an item is used from the first aid kit, promptly replace it.

Learn how to use your first aid kit

A first aid kit won't help if you don't know how to use its contents. Buy a book on basic first aid to read about how to use the contents of the kit or, better still, participate in a first aid course.

First aid equipment explained

The various gauzes, dressings and bandages found in a first aid kit have different uses. Some of these include:

• Adhesive strip dressings - small strips of gauze attached to a sticky backing. These dressings are used for minor cuts and skin injuries. In Australia, they are commonly called Band-Aids. It is important to be aware that some people are allergic to Band-Aids
• Non-adhesive dressings - best used for covering burnt or abraded (scraped or grazed) skin. Never use adhesive dressings on burnt or abraded skin
• Wound dressings - these thick pads are used to help control bleeding and reduce the risk of infection. Different sizes are needed for different-sized wounds
• Crepe or conforming bandages - these elastic bandages are used to create pressure, hold dressings in place, reduce swelling and provide some support.
• Triangular bandages - these non-elastic bandages are used for slings, to hold splints in place and to restrict movement
• Sterile eyewash solution - used to flush eyelashes, insects, dust, sand or similar particles from the eye. Never attempt to remove an object that is embedded in or has penetrated an eye - in such an instance, seek urgent medical attention