Scouts First Aid Kit – what’s needed

There’s a lot of discussion regarding what’s required in a First Aid kit, and information seems to change regularly. However, the Scout Association’s latest guidance (obtained 25/06/2016) provides a clear list of what’s required. The Association also make a few recommendations for additional items which you may need to carry.

This list related to a kit for a Headquarters and you’ll need to adjust it for a personal First Aid kit:

• Pair of disposable non-latex protective gloves.
• 20 individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings
• 2 sterile eye pads
• 4 individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile
• 6 safety pins
• 6 medium-sized (approximately 12cm x 12cm) individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings
• 6 large-sized (approximately 18cm x 18cm) individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings
• Guidance leaflet (a leaflet supplied with the kit or that you make yourself which includes brief instructions on emergency treatment).

In addition, there are some addition items you might like to include in your Scouting First Aid Kit. These include:

• Resuscitation Face Shield (you can buy faceshields in cool little keyrings so that you’ve always got one handy)
• Scissors (for cutting plasters and bandages, but be careful not to cut skin)
• Extra gloves (vinyl gloves ideally, as some people are allergic to latex and this can cause Anaphylactic Shock)
• Adhesive tape
• Steripods (individual bottles of sterilised water for cleaning grazes)
• Alcohol gel or cleaning wipes for the First Aider’s hands (don’t use this on wounds as it will be very painful for the injured person)
• Painkillers or anti-inflammatories (but make sure you fully understand if anyone you are administering them to aren’t allergic and that you have parental permission to administer them)

What not to carry in a Scout First Aid kit:

• Don’t use large bottles of sterilised water. Once it’s been opened the contents is considered no longer sterile
• Never use latex gloves as some people can have a severe allergic reaction to latex (Anaphylactic Shock)