What to Put in a Trauma First Aid Kit

While all UK businesses are required to have an appropriate first aid kit to treat minor illnesses and injuries, when the risk of serious injury is greater than normal, a trauma first aid kit may be required.

Trauma kits are designed to enable untrained individuals to respond to major injuries in an emergency. They are stocked with specialised first aid provisions capable of slowing or stopping serious bleeds – one of the primary causes of death in trauma cases.
 

Trauma first aid kit contents

Trauma first kits are ideal for providing life-saving treatment to serious bleeds before further medical assistance can be administered. Items like haemostatic dressings, haemostatic granules and tourniquets are more effective at slowing catastrophic bleeding than the standard dressings found in most first aid kits.

In addition to the standard requirements for general first aid kits, trauma kits may include the following:
 

Haemostatic Dressings

Haemostatic dressings are like normal first aid dressings and serve the same purpose. Here’s where they differ – haemostatic dressings use a special chemical process to jumpstart the clotting process, slowing bleeds and making wound healing faster. They are included in trauma first aid kits as they are highly effective at slowing catastrophic bleeding before ambulances arrive.

Find out more about haemostatic dressings and how to use them.
 

Haemostatic Granules

Haemostatic granules contain the same chemical agents as haemostatic dressings to speed up the blood’s natural clotting process. They can be used in combination with normal dressings to increase their effectiveness. Haemostatic granules are not included in trauma first aid kits as often as haemostatic dressings are, as the latter are more convenient and effective.
 

Tourniquets

A tourniquet’s job is to stop catastrophic bleeding from the limbs. They work by limiting blood flow past the point of application and can be used in conjunction with other treatments to give trauma casualties more time to make it to the hospital. They are included in trauma first aid kits as an emergency treatment option for major bleeds on the limbs.
 

What is the difference between a first aid kit and a trauma kit?

Trauma kits are specialised first aid kits that include additional provisions to be able to treat more serious injuries. They are recommended for workplaces where the risk of serious injury is greater, or for public spaces where there is a threat of a terrorist attack.
 
Read our other blogs for more information on first aid or contact us for further advice and information on our products.

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About the author:

Jo Stokes is a writer, marketer and trained first aider at First Aid Online.
Find out more about Jo.