First Aid Kits etc

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You need more than one First Aid Kit. They need to be accessible - and must NOT be kept locked away, although simple plastic security tags are readily available to help prevent pilfering (especially of tape and plasters). The other advantage of using a security tag on the First Aid Kit is that checking the contents are intact is a simple matter of looking at the security tag. This will save your Safety Adviser a LOT of work.

• boathouse - fully stocked kit,
• clubhouse - ditto. Essential if you have external functions in your clubhouse; you wouldn't want guests at a wedding reception, for example, stumbling about the boathouse looking for the First Aid Kit.
• launches - basic First Aid Kits in each launch,
• bank coaches - consider providing basic supplies for coaches on bicycles,
• portable kits - separate fully stocked First Aid Kits should be available to take with you to events, mostly in case of any accidents on the way to and from the event.

Decide whether or not you think your club First Aid Kits are for emergency use only (which I strongly recommend), or whether you're happy for club members to use their contents to tape up their blistered hands. My view is that blisters are an occupational hazard, not a First Aid emergency, and all oarsmen should be expected to provide their own plasters and tape for these running repairs.

Contents

This is my view of what should be included in (and excluded from) a First Aid Kit for rowing clubs. It's based on recommendations in the 8th Edition of the First Aid Manual.

• Waterproof container - clearly marked, preferably with the standard marking (white cross on a green background; NOT a red cross).
• A mixed selection (min. 20) of waterproof adhesive dressings (plasters) - consider getting blue catering plasters if you want to use this in a kitchen.
• 6 medium sterile dressings
• 2 large sterile dressings
• 2 extra-large sterile dressings
• 2 sterile eye-pads - even if only one eye is injured, you will need to bandage both, otherwise when the healthy eye moves, the injured eye moves with it and may cause further damage. Some pre-packed First Aid Kits only include one eye-pad; add a second one!
• 6 triangular bandages - woven ones, I find, are better than the "non-woven" paper type.
• 12 safety pins - shouldn't be a shortage of safety pins in the average rowing club!
• 4 pairs of disposable gloves (be careful with latex gloves as some people can have a dangerous allergic reaction to their powder coating)
• Scissors - the Tuffcut type are very versatile, but you will also need a smaller, sharper pair to cut dressings with etc.
• 4 crepe bandages (assorted widths / lengths)
• Tweezers
• Non-alcoholic wound cleansing wipes
• Adhesive tape
• Notepad / pencil / tags - take notes of the incident and casualty's condition and make sure they stay with the casualty
• Plastic face shield or (preferably) face mask

You can get complete First Aid Kits (e.g. the St John sports kit) together with replacement bits and pieces from St John Supplies (you don't have to be a member to order from them), or lots of High Street stores. Why not put in a big order for your club and any club members who would like to upgrade their own domestic First Aid Kits, and take advantage of bulk discounts?

Things NOT to have in a First Aid Kit

• DEFINITELY NO prescription medication - if, for example, asthmatic club members want to keep a spare inhaler then they need to keep it in their kit bag.
• All the advice I've had on my various training courses is not to keep any drugs or medication at all in a First Aid Kit. If you do decide that you want to have some headache tablets, e.g. paracetamol or aspirin, then make sure they're clearly labelled, in date and only have a few (say no more than 6) in the First Aid Kit at any one time. I still think it's a bad idea, but it's your call.

First Aid Training

OK, you've got a well-stocked, accessible First Aid Kit, ideally more than one. But do you know how to use it? It's not really much use if you don't. Find out if any club members already have First Aid qualifications, and make a list. If you haven't got any, then get some. Contact your local St John Ambulance or British Red Cross (check the local phone book for contact details) about courses. Maybe if you can get sufficient interest in the club (and neighbouring clubs too), you could persuade them to run a course specifically for you. Or find out from your employers if they need any First Aiders at work - then you might get lucky and have them pay for the training! The more qualified and proficient First Aiders there are, the more likely one will be on hand when you need one.