How Often Should You Refill Your First Aid Kit

It is essential to check your first aid kit regularly so that it is always ready for use. If your first aid kit has run out of supplies, or maybe items have gone out of date, you can then purchase a first aid kit refill.
 
By buying a first aid kit refill instead of a whole first aid kit it is not only more cost effective as you are only paying for the supplies, but also more sustainable, because you are helping to cut down on your overall waste by not getting rid of the old box. First aid refill kits also have the benefit of allowing you to tailor your kit to suit your needs. For example, you could purchase a specific burns refill kit if the majority of the supplies used were related to burns injuries.
  An image of a first aid kit being stored in a glove compartment

How often should first aid kits be checked?

There is no set guideline for how often you should check your first aid kit, however general consensus is that it should be checked at least once every three months. The more frequently you check, the more likely you are to spot if you are running out of certain supplies straight away.

Some workplaces may have their own timelines in place requiring you to check your work first aid kits once a month for example, so if you are checking a first aid kit on behalf of your company, make sure that you are following their guidelines as well.
 

What is the lifespan of a first aid kit?

Most first aid kits last somewhere between three to five years, which is why the general consensus for checking your first aid kit is three years.
 
Some first aid kits will have the overall expiry date written on them, while others will have it on the individual products. If you are looking at the expiry date on the first aid kit, it is important to remember that all the supplies will have individual dates on them as well.
  An image of someone checking the first aid supplies

How to tell if a first aid kit is expired

The main way to tell if your first aid kit has expired is to check the dates on the items in your kit, it is very similar to checking food for their best before dates. Some products will have a symbol that looks like an hourglass next to a date, this is the date that you need to look for.
 
If you have products that are lacking an expiry date, this is when you would either rely upon an overall first aid kit expiry date or do a visual check. If any of these products have changed colour or look damaged, then it is best to change them straight away.
 
For more in more information on finding out if your first aid kit has expired, read our blog post Can You Use Out of Date First Aid Stock?.
 

What to check in a first aid kit

There are several important things that you need to be aware of when checking your first aid kit to see if you need any first aid refill supplies.
  1. As previously mentioned, is everything in date? Has anything in your first aid kit expired?
  2. Is the packaging all still intact? This is particularly important for bandages and dressings that need to be kept clean. Have any seals been tampered with?
  3. Has anything that should be in there run out? Is there anything missing from your supplies that you think is needed?
  4. Are any of the actual supplies damaged? Is anything the wrong colour?
If any of the supplies or packaging are damaged, they need to be replaced, especially if the product in the package is supposed to be sterile.
  An image of someone checking the back of a first aid package


First aid kit refills


Read our other blogs for more information on first aid or contact us for further advice and information on our products.