Emergency Supplies Blog

Importance of Industrial First Aid Kits:

Anybody who has been an employee or an employer in the industrial sector knows the hazards and threats that loom large in the sector as far as health and security is concerned. Perhaps, the industrial sector is one of the most dangerous work areas. This is why most employers or employees cannot overlook the importance or urgency of an industrial first aid kit. Almost all governments across the world have made it mandatory for first aid kits to be easily available to employees of organizations, irrespective of their size, budget or staff constitution. Having first aid kits and emergency supplies for injuries and other problems at the workplace is also beneficial for the employers. This is because of two reasons:

#1. An injury or accident means loss of manpower and considerable loss in the actual output of the company, i.e. profits!

#2. A lot of workers sue the employer as a party that is responsible indirectly, increasing the chances of the employer to face legal trouble if he does not facilitate the usage or availability of emergency kits or first aid supplies.

Emergency supplies and first aid kits today do not cost a fortune, which gives another reason to invest in them. A first aid kit for a dozen-strong taskforce can cost about $50 while a 50-man staff contingent may require a first aid kit worth $250. With such low amount of investment, one can create a secure environment in a factory and be prepared for freak injuries or accidents. An ideal first aid kit for an industrial sector worker should contain some of the basic contents of a medical emergency kit as well as other important first aid supplies. Gloves, masks, gowns, bandages, tapes, gauze, scissors, ointments, wipes, emergency food supplies and emergency lights, etc. should be present in an industrial first aid kit. A first aid kit should be ideally attached to a wall or within an easily accessible cabinet so that in case of an emergency any worker can locate it without difficulty.  Waterproof and watertight containers or bags should contain the emergency supplies and medical first aid kits. This way, you assure the first aid kit to be sturdy enough for use when an actual emergency occurs. First aid kits are available aplenty online, with the latest supplies and medical first aid kit materials being made available through multiple online dealers at subsidized prices. The price also reduces when bought in bulk, especially, for corporations that have several industrial branches around. Therefore, it is advisable to have an industrial first aid kit at hand while at work – both for the employee as well as for the employer!

You’ve put a good deal of time and effort into planning your emergency supplies, tools, evacuation and disaster relief plans. All of that planning will do you no good if do not practive good emergency supplies storage. If your house’s heating system goes out on the coldest night of the year and you can’t find your solar blankets and sleeping bags, then all that pre-planning is wasted. It is absolutely imperative that you mark all of your emergency supplies and make sure they are portable and ready to go for anyone in your household who needs to use them.

The following tips for emergency supplies storage ideas should help you get it all under control. First let’s consider your trauma kits and first aid kits. Hopefully when you purchased them they came with a case or backpack style container to hold all of the various bandages and creams and splints and other supplies. However, if you purchased your medical supplies separately, it is important that you purchase a case to hold them all in one central, easy to find location.

Backpacks and plastic art supply cases are perfect for holding all of your first aid needs. Remember to label your supplies so there is no confusion when they are needed. You may want to consider a heavy duty rubber 55 gallon tote on wheels as the ideal emergency supplies storage ideas. Use backpacks and duffle style roll bags to parcel out supplies by category. Another good idea is use a five gallon bucket with a lid.

First aid supplies, sleeping linens, heat generating equipment and emergency shelter rations should all be separate and labeled and marked. You want to be able to open the lid to a bucket or drum and grab the kit you need for the specific emergency at hand. Purchase the right storage system and this will be easily accomplished. It is frustrating when you need something and cannot find it.

Now let’s drop an emergency like a natural disaster on you and you’re hunting for flashlights in the dark. This is not an ideal scenario, especially when you’ve spent so much time and effort planning out your emergency supplies. Take a little bit more time for planning your emergency supplies storage ideas and when it comes time to use those supplies, they’ll be easy to find, readily available and you will breathe a huge sigh of relief. Being prepared, and ready for all types of emergencies, is always the best situation.

Accidents often happen when we least expect them. Sometimes specific, certain, unexpected, unusual and unintended accidents occur without any clear or conscious cause resulting in deep emotional and physical injury. It generally leads to negative consequences which may have been controlled or made less acute, had the circumstances leading to the mishap been recognized and worked upon before it actually occurred. Sometimes we regret being incompetent in controlling a situation from being worse. Don’t overlook the importance of a first aid kit in your day to day activity.

Acquiring a first aid kit with a few extra supplies does not cost a fortune. You can easily spend a minimal amount of money in buying something which is highly necessary to evade any minor or major casualty in your life. Although no first aid kit can have supplies to handle all major medical troubles that occurs suddenly; a properly accumulated first aid kit can handle all emergency situations, or enable the victim to survive till expert medicare arrives.

What are the basic contents of an ideal first aid kit is a matter of choice. The content selection should always depend on the possible severity of a situation and the type of injury. It also depends on when and where the supplies are to be used. Like putting together a basic first aid kit for travel purpose differs from the one to be used at home. Outdoor and indoor first aid kits with all emergency preparedness supplies are readily available in market. Below is a simple list of first aid supplies required in every first aid kit:

At the onset every first aid kit should have bandages, first aid tape, surgical razor, sterile pads, tweezers, disinfectant pads, aspirin and oxy-tetracycline tablets. Any material in the kit that surpasses the expiry date should immediately be disposed off from the first aid kit, and should be duly replaced.

Insect Repellents (advantageous during outdoor trips especially in village areas)

Feminine hygiene products

Antibiotic cream

Salt and Soap

Hand Sanitizer

Toilet paper

Epinephrine and antihistamines for allergy

Hydrogen peroxide

Sunscreen with high SPF factor at least 30 is recommended.

Rubbing alcohol

Suture Kit

CPR Mouth Piece

Vinyl Gloves

Generally the small first aid kits with limited emergency are sufficient for minor injuries where cuts and injuries only need to be cleansed or bandaged. Some advanced forms of trauma kits contain emergency supplies to control serious issues like defibrillator machines used for life threatening emergencies as heart attack. Defibrillator machines often save a life before the victim is treated by any medical expert. It is especially helpful in remote locations where medical support is not easily available. These custom made medical kits can also contain smelling salts to regain consciousness to those who are unconscious, burn ointment, poison control for accidental inhalation, thermometer to detect body temperature, eye wash solution, and an ice packs.

Although it is difficult to cover up the damage that comes after a disaster a well stocked medical kit with good emergency supplies can successfully prevent a situation becoming worse. So take some time from your busy schedule and assemble your first aid kit and first aid supplies as nothing costs more than the loss of life.

When we talk about first aid kit the first thing that comes into our mind is the collection of supplies that are used to give emergency support. A first aid kit differs in its contents depending on the purpose of its use. The more advanced version of a first aid kit used by the emergency responders is called a trauma kit. Trauma kits generally contain advanced emergency support materials such as supplies to control bleeding, breathing barriers for performing CPR and should also contain some medicines.

All kits are assembled in different types of containers depending on whether they are commercially produced or assembled by an individual. The advanced first aid kits often come in durable plastic boxes, thick fabric pouches or even in wall mounted cabinets. Both natural and man made disaster leave physical injury and emotional distress. Some accidents often make us feel guilty when we realize that the disaster could not have been as destructive if the emergency supplies would have been available. This is why first aid kits and trauma kits with complete emergency supplies should be made accessible.

A first aid kit is a means of providing initial care to certain self controlled illness or injuries where advanced medical care may not always be required. The trauma kits on the other hand are more advanced medical kits, also called as trauma bags or a first responder bag. Deciding on what kind of first aid kit would be appropriate for your needs might be confusing. The selection of kits should depend on the purpose of use.

Here’s a list of different types of first aid kits to determine what types would best be used depending on circumstances:

Traditional: commonly available in kit style in the market. These are the best first responders usually kept in home or at work centers. – Unitized First Aid Kits: especially to be carried on boats, in tool boxes, at job sites, buses and swimming pools. The contents kept in this type of box are categorized into first aid and trauma aid elements. Unitized kits are great to be used in messy or wet regions.

Dispensing: these are small cabinet kits mounted on walls. The contents are well packed in special boxes with perforations the top. It usually holds a large number of items compared to most other kits.

First Responder: these are not necessarily meant for medical experts. The content to be kept in these types of kits depends on the intended use of it. The first responder first aid kits are custom made to be carried quickly to the wounded.

Specialized – Custom Kits: first aid kits are often available with various emergency supplies all made to fit a unique situation. First aid kits and trauma kits require efficiency and knowledge about the casualty that may arise and should contain a first aid book or you may need to add one.

Purchasing first aid kits and trauma kits online with emergency preparedness supplies companies is easy nowadays and just a few clicks away. 

In the circumstance of a of fire, the first and the foremost step to be taken by the occupants are to immediately evacuate the place. Every building should follow an evacuation plan that includes both primary and a secondary evacuation passage. Sometimes the life of the occupants is at stake and it completely depends on the rescue team on how to implement the entire operation while fire engulfs an area or building. But in the case of the initial absence of a rescue team, you need to be abreast with the basics of evacuating an entire building, establish a designated area to meet outside the building and maintain the primary safety procedures. Be sure the safe spot selected is familiar with everyone and is far away from the affected zone.

Moreover, your evacuation plan should incorporate a warning call announcing the initiation or completion of evacuation procedure. Following a proper evacuation plan and/or search and rescue plan and having a reliable fire extinguisher, some smoke marks, a couple fire blankets, flashlights, communication devices, trauma kits, an a few search and rescue items to back you up. These rescue emergency supplies do not cost a lot but can certainly save a priceless life.

Evacuation Tips: Immediately leave the building after the call or alarm is sounded. Do not take risk of an immediate investigation if you are not trained enough. While leaving close all doors preventing the smoke, flames or choking odor to spread out. Never run, but walk swiftly to the closest exit out of the building. Do not re-enter into the fire-affected area before it is subdued. Assemble at the designated area. Never use the elevator in a hurry to exit the building as that may prove even more disastrous. Once the all residents leave the place the entire responsibility turns over to the first responders.

Nevertheless, proper training on the part of your team is highly commendable. The training should include fire safety basics along with a detailed knowledge on the types of fire extinguishers and their proper use. The training should also include the discretionary use of extinguishers with a controlled fire. The building owners and managers should go through the emergency evacuation and safety measures making sure that a safe escape has been provided to all. It depends on individual discretion on how efficiently we meet a challenging situation. It is also true that only a smart thought out process cannot help every time unless there is adequate safety equipment available to you.
 

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) are in charge of educating people about disaster preparedness for hazards that occur all of a sudden. They educate people about how to survive when disaster strikes. Basic skills like light search and rescue, fire safety, disaster medical operations and team organization are taught to the people. The instructions are formally given in classroom training schedules. Having acquired the necessary skills, the CERT members become efficient enough to offer a helping hand during any crisis or disaster, irrespective of its place or magnitude. Their important service helps when professional rescue takes time to reach.

In 1985, the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) had developed and implemented the CERT concept. It was in the year 1987 when a major earthquake hit the Whittier Narrows area in Los Angeles County, California, that the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs was felt. As a result of which, the LAFD created a disaster preparedness bench with the intention of training citizens along with private and government employees. CERT plays a responsible role in preparing citizens against any kind of disaster. It also helps them in understanding how efficiently they can help their friends and family even in the absence of emergency supplies.

In case of emergency crises, professional CERT training and emergency CERT products can come in real handy. CERT products such a emergency response kit combined with the CERT Field Manual can help save lives when professional medical assistance or emergency help are not at hand. In order to have a global reach, CERT offers a number of allied non-technical products too, and these may include the famed CERT Logo Baseball Hat or the Bull Horn 10 Watt, each of which are as good as the core CERT products.

Community Emergency Response Teams need a large number of emergency products including a 3 day – 72 hour emergency kit.   CERT emergency supplies include first aid kits, first aid cabinets, medical emergency kits and supplies, and trauma kits and supplies. It is not that you can only buy CERT products if you belong to a local response team. You can have the products for your personal safety too and may be able to help your neighbor in times of crisis.

You can buy the CERT supplies and first aid kits by either visiting a store or from online retailers. Getting the CERT colors and logo’s on your teams gear is important and helps the public know your on a CERT team. CERT logo and colors can be found on products like survival kit backpacks, bull horns, C.E.R.T. embroidered patches, C.E.R.T. field manuals, C.E.R.T. form books, polo shirts, action response units, hard hats, emergency ponchos, EVAC (Emergency Volunteer Air Corps) roll stretchers, etc.  Its always best to have your emergency kits and emergency supplies ready to go and/or to help others that you may need help in a crisis situations.
 

Both natural and man-made disasters result in emotional and physical injury. Most of the survivors of natural disasters, war, and terror attacks suffer from acute trauma and emotional turbulence. They may have come out unscathed from a hurricane, earthquake or a bomb blast, but the traumatic experience often paralyses them and deters them from recuperating completely. Physical and emotional trauma, if not handled immediately with first aid kit and emergency supplies, can go horribly out-of-hand and wreak havoc in the life of the victim. This is why a trauma kit with a complete set of emergency preparedness supplies should be made available for employees in a workplace as well as in public domains.

Most of these trauma kit should be attached on walls or should be strung up in plain sight so that in case of emergency people do not have to exert themselves to reach, find,  or access the the first aid kit. Acquiring a trauma kit has become all the more simple as they can be purchased online. Whether you need a trauma kit as a personal safeguard, or need a large one that is part of medical first aid kits for 10-200 strong workforce, availing one today is as easy as buying a hat from a street vendor.

Building a trauma kit needs much more caution and homework than packing a simple medical emergency kit. You need to survey the kind of situations you may experience trauma from as well as the environs around. You may need a foldable stretcher or quick splint and bandage wraps or ointment for a spider bite – all of which, if untreated or unattended to, can cause the injuries to turn into more severe ones. A trauma kit may contain everything – from a simple burn ointment to complete rolls of bandages and foldable stretcher units

Trauma kits have helped hundreds save themselves – right from the scene of the London Subway bombings to Hurricane Katrina victims. And as far as buying such trauma kits or emergency supplies are concerned, right from small personal kits to deluxe emergency bulk-heads for a 1,000 strong crowd is easily available online. The importance of trauma kits are one of the most important first aid supplies to have in emergency situations, this cannot be stressed enough. Injuries may heal, but without trauma treatment with the help of medical first aid kits complete recuperation may take a long time!

Whether it’s an earthquake, fire, flood, or other natural disaster, it’s important to be prepared if things go bad.  Keeping extra water, food, and medical supplies on hand is always a good idea.  You should have at least two first aid kits or medical supply boxes.  We suggest one in your car and one in your house at all times.  It’s hard to prepare for a disaster, after all, you can’t know all the minute details until the disaster is upon you.  But it’s a good idea to have your supplies readily accessible and/or even have extra supplies outside your home, like in your car.  You should also set a meeting point with family and friends.

If you prepare for an emergency or disaster beforehand, you will be much calmer and able to address the situation should the unthinkable occur.  Being prepared is not just about having the right planning and supplies, it’s about abstaining from fear.

In the time of crises we often lose control over our thought process and become nervous. Such traumatic emergency situations or conditions need to be handled with proper care and intelligence. Your safety should always be the top priority in any case because unless you are safe you cannot provide help to others. Safety is always the top priority and emergency communications is the basic element to this safety. It requires a lot of courage on the part of the victim to wake up and take charge after the devastating damage that comes with a natural or man-made disaster.

It has also been witnessed that after a massive earthquake, a devastating flood or a harrowing tsunami, that the existing communications system may not be available. The cause may be either due to physical damage or system overload. Consequently, the entire communication suddenly stalls with the damage of telephone wires, damage of cellular phone towers and antennas losing power. Even the government system fails in meeting the large scale damage control and the demands of the civilians affected. This is the time for any voluntary or non voluntary organization to respond quickly in the event of an emergency. There are many organizations that have developed emergency communication plans to carry out the communications and operations offering rapid response during a crisis. The communication devices that can be used during a crisis:

Amateur Radio: In time of a natural disaster an amateur radio is often used as an important medium of emergency communication. An amateur radio is especially helpful when wire phone, cell phones and other communication mediums fail to respond. Unlike other communication devices, the amateur radio is not completely dependent on land facilities. Amateur radio operators are experienced in using the device. It can easily be powered with an automobile battery.

AM /FM Solar Dynamo Radio with Flashlight: An AM/FM Solar Dynamo Radio with flashlights is also used as an emergency communication device. The radio with its flashlights converts the solar energy for rechargeable lanterns, blinking lights and an AM/FM Radio for indoor and outdoor activities. These radio types are especially great for power failures.

AM/FM Radio (TRANSISTOR) With Speaker: These radio transistors can best be used to give access to emergency news and warnings. The compact radio keeps one updated on warnings and emergencies even during power failures. These radio transistors are generally available with head sets and carry straps.

Brass Whistle with Lanyard: This brass whistle includes a lanyard and is a great attention catching device. The device is especially compact and affordable. There’s a special method of using the device – to indicate a call for help three sharp bursts are used and to answer a call, only two bursts are used.

Some other important communication devices that can be used during a crisis include, AM/FM Radio Siren Flashlights, Bull Horn, Walkie Talkies, Weather Band w/Dynamo Charging System, Lifeline Emergency Kit w/Phone, Solar Dynamo Radios along with Flashlights Models, Megaphone, some with Sirens, Pocket Compass, Solar AM/FM Shortwave Radio, and shack flashlights.

Emergency communications are important during any crisis or emergency. Since being prepared and informed is always vital, people need to be updated at all times. A successful communication plan and proper emergency supplies is the best possible means to stop overwhelming damage from large-scale disasters.

Emergency sanitation and hygiene kits may not appear to be important to a lot of people. In a time of crisis, there are more important things to worry about, like where you are going to get your supply of clean food and water or shelter. So spending time to think about where you are going to find things to clean yourself with or where to properly dispose your wastes seem too trivial. But if you are one of the people who think this way, you can never be more wrong. During emergencies, your survival does not only depend on food and water, but also in keeping yourself clean and sanitary. Remember that many people get sick and even die in evacuation camps that do not have proper waste disposal systems. Keeping yourself clean and making sure that your wastes, such as stool and urine, are properly disposed of can prevent the spread of diseases and infections.

Aside from keeping an emergency hygiene and sanitation kit inside your home in preparation for hurricanes, earthquakes or other unwanted incidents, you also need to keep such kit inside your car, van or RV. This is particularly important if you are planning to take your family on a road or nature trip. If you are traveling with your kids, you also need to be prepared for any eventuality. You know that children cannot properly hold their urge to vomit or use the bathroom so you need to be ready or else you have to get used to having funny smell inside your car throughout the duration of the trip.

Now that you know the importance of emergency hygiene and sanitation equipment, the next step is to determine what your kit should contain. First, you ought to make sure that you all have the necessary tools to keep you and your family clean. A personal hygiene kit that contains toilet paper, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap and other cleansing products is necessary for every member of your family. Next, you also need to pay attention to your sanitation needs; you can bring an emergency toilet (especially if you are going camping), self-heating washcloths or hot water on demand, and toilet bags.

Although you can make your own emergency hygiene and sanitation kit, you really do not have to. There are a lot of kits available in the market. We can help see our “Hygiene and Sanitation” category on our web site and click on these kits on our home page. Surely, you will find one that would fit your needs and that of your family.