In NSW, there is no legal requirement to have a First Aid kit in the home. It is however, plain common sense.
What you choose for around the home, in the car, on holidays, when camping, hiking or at sports is up to you, but it makes sense to start with a basic First Aid kit and add to it some items typical to your environment.
Assess the risks in your environment - Do you:
Live a significant distance from an Ambulance?
Have snakes around?
Have young children?
Travel long distances through rural areas?
Are slips and falls likely?
Are bites and stings a problem?
Is an animal attack possible?
Does anyone in the family have a significant health issue?
Ask us for advice about designing a First Aid kit to suit your home, family and lifestyle. It doesn't have to cost a fortune, but if you get a kit, get one that works for you.
AT WORK
There are very clear rules for First Aid kits in the workplace. These rules are determined by WorkCover NSW and can be difficult to assess if you don't know where to go for advice.
First Aid kits are classified into categories - Class A, B and C. A is the largest, C the smallest. Most small businesses will require a Class C, but this is determined by the type of industry and the number of employees.
Click here to downloada basic matrix to assess your industry, or simply call us on 1300 766 120 for free advice.
As with domestic kits, it makes sense to have your kit designed for your particular industry. Buying a basic First Aid kit simply to satisfy your OHS obligations might not do you, your employees or your customers much good when something goes bad. WorkCover sets the minimums, but WorkCover doesn't know what your particular business does.
CHEAP FIRST AID KITS
There are plenty of cheap First Aid kits on the market, that's simply because they are cheap. You get exactly what you pay for. Cheap kits may or may not comply with WorkCover standards - how will you know? Cheap kits may or may not have high quality sterile components - how will you know? No First Aid kit you buy will contain everything you need, you'll always want to add personal medications, tools, spare parts, emergency supplies of your own. You need a kit that allows room for you to add extra stuff without damaging either the case or the contents.
