What's in Your Store's First-Aid Kit?

Nobody wants an accident to occur at their business, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared for one. In 2015, retail ranked third on a list of nonfatal occupational injuries by industry, with nearly 400,000 cases. The only industries with more injuries and illnesses were heath care and social assistance (562,300) and manufacturing (425,700).

While retail may seem like a low-risk industry, it has the same incidence rate—3.4 per 100 full-time workers—as both construction and manufacturing.

Though it’s not always possible to prevent injuries, preparing a first-aid kit is a good line of defense that can help keep incidents from getting out of hand. OSHA standards do not require specific first-aid kit contents. However, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has established a guideline, which is included below. Notice, they do not list any medications. While it may seem counterintuitive to omit over-the-counter pain medications, any medication carries with it the risk of a reaction. It’s best to leave that to the injured party or emergency services.

A CPR barrier device is included in the second list below. New CPR guidelines were introduced in 2015 that recommend untrained bystanders perform hands-only CPR. It is recommended to have someone trained in CPR available at your business. A properly trained person should perform CPR including breaths. If no one is available who has been trained, be sure everyone in your business knows that hands-only CPR is better than no CPR at all.

What you should definitely include in a first-aid kit:

• 16 adhesive bandages, 1” x 3”
• 10 antiobiotic treatment application, 1/57 oz
• 10 antiseptic applications, 1/57 oz
• 1 breathing barrier
• 1 burn dressing, gel soaked, 4” x 4”
• 10 burn treatment, 1/32 oz
• 1 cold pack
• 2 eye covering
• 1 eye wash
• 1 first-aid guide
• 6 hand sanitizer, 0.9g
• 2 pair exam gloves
• 1 roller bandage, 2” x 4 yards
• 1 scissors
• 2 sterile pad, 3” x 3”
• 2 trauma pad, 5” x 9”
• 1 triangular bandage, 40” x 40” x 56”

Additional items you may want to consider:

• 50 adhesive bandages, 1”x 3”
• 2 adhesive tape, 2.5 yards
• 25 antibiotic treatment application, 1/57 oz
• 50 antiseptic applications, 1/57 oz
• 1 breathing barrier
• 2 burn dressing, gel soaked, 4” x 4”
• 25 burn treatment, 1/32 oz
• 2 cold pack
• 2 eye covering
• 1 eye wash, 4 oz
• 1 first aid guide
• 10 hand sanitizer, 0.9g
• 4 pair exam gloves
• 2 roller bandage, 2” x 4 yards
• 1 roller bandage, 4” x 4 yards
• 1 scisors
• 1 splint, 4” x 24”
• 4 sterile pad, 3” x 3”
• 1 tourniquet
• 4 trauma pad, 5” x 9”
• 2 triangular bandage, 40” x 40” x 56

This post was written by Beth L. Beth L. is a Regulatory Affairs Analyst at Acuity where she specializes in researching regulations, understanding statutes, and working with compliance.. She studied regulation, policy, environmental studies, and business administration at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Beth has received degrees in in public administration and environmental policy and planning, and also has a certification in environmental sustainability in business. Outside of work Beth likes to run, cook, and play with her dog, Butter.