Imagine, at your place of employment, a scenario in which a fellow employee tripped over a cord in the office. Losing their balance, they fell and hit their head on a file cabinet. The accident caused a severe head wound on the forehead of the employee in the form of a deep gash resulting in severe bleeding. Would you, or those around you, have known what to do if this emergency had been real?
Medical emergencies are exactly that and, as such, cannot be predicted. Therefore, it is important that not only employees have the skills necessary to respond to medical emergencies in the workplace, but to have the proper tools available when responding. One such tool is a first aid kit and it starts with an empty first aid bag.
When selecting an empty first aid bag, to hold the needed first aid supplies, it is important to select the bag that is most appropriate to the workplace environment. The features that need to be considered when selecting an empty first aid bag would be its physical features, ease of use and durability.
Physical Features
The size of the empty first aid bag should take in a number of considerations. Those considerations include a bag that is large enough to meet the needs of the number of employees in the workplace. A bag that is 10″W x 7″H x 4″ should be sufficient for a number of workplace environments.
It is also important to choose an empty first aid bag that can be easily carried. Not all emergencies occur within the proximity of where the first aid kit is stored.
Also, the physical features of the empty first aid bag should take into consideration where the bag will be stored. The bag should be stored where it is easily accessible and yet out of the way so that it will not walk off. Determining its place of storage is an important factor in selecting the right size.
Ease Of Use
When selecting your empty first aid bag another consideration is the ease of use. During emergencies, time is of the essence. Therefore, a bag that holds the first aid items in place using zippered pockets or lifting straps may be the best choice.
Also, the empty first aid bag should be securely fastened with large, securely fastened handles for ease of carrying. In addition, in accessing out of the way areas, a good idea is to purchase an empty first aid bag that is equipped with a large shoulder strap.
Ease of use should also take into consideration the construction of the inside of the bag. Questions to ask would be how many compartments it has to segment out the various first aid items and are the compartment readily available once the bag has been accessed? Also, are there loops or other features that allow for scissors, tweezers and other tools to be easily stored?
Durability
Finally, you get what you pay for. Therefore, it is important to purchase an empty first aid bag that is within your budget, but is of sufficient quality to provide durability and protection for the first aid supplies.
Also, because the empty first aid bag is designed for mobility, the bag should be made of light weight material. Also, it would be a good idea to purchase a product that is waterproof.
