First aid kits

Everyone should have first aid kit available.At home, at work, in the car or on a hike.It is especially important to have first aid equipment available where there is a greater likelihood of an injury, such as at a workplace. Or where the consequences are greater, such as on a mountain hike where you must wait for long time for help to arrive.

What you should have of first aid equipment depends on what can happen. Remember that you must also check the first aid equipment regularly, check if something is used or old. Bandages have a long shelf life, while fire bandages have a much shorter shelf life. Therefore, make it a good habit to take a small review of your first aid kit regularly.

What should you wear of first aid equipment?

Here is a list of what is needed for most first aid situations:

• Gloves
• Salt water can be used as a wound wash and eye rinse
• Wound washing and wound ointment
• Plasters, compresses, bandages, wound tape – different sizes
• Fire jelly or fire bandage
• Tweezers and scissors
• Ice packs and support bandage
• Mouth-to-mouth mask

On tour

On long trips and hikes you must also consider if you need:

• Blankets and wind protection to prevent cooling
• Enough battery on telephone, and preferably emergency charger
• Map, so you state you exact position
• Reflective vest or other visible clothing, can be helpful to be sighted if you need to be picked up
• Flashlight to be able to signal

Car

In the car, in addition to first aid equipment, it may make sense to have:

• Reflective vest, and like to have extra vests for passengers
• Fire extinguisher
• Blankets and wind protection to prevent cooling

At work

At work, you need first aid equipment that reflects the risks that exist. Here you should consider seek some help from person who sells first aid equipment, the occupational health service or others who have knowledge of what can occur from incidents on your worksite. You also need to consider how many people may be injured in an incident; this may mean that you may need more first aid equipment. If you work with, for example, flammable liquids, you need more and larger fire bandages.

Self-preparedness

In addition to first aid equipment, you should prepare for of crisis like natural disaster, terrorism or extreme weather that can cause a prolonged power outage and similar situations. What you should have in your emergency stockpile can be found here: https://www.sikkerhverdag.no/egenberedskap

You should also have medication.

What medication you need depends on whether you have any diseases and whether you have children.

• have antipyretics and painkillers in the right dosage for you and for children
• medical charcoal can be important in some poisonings, and when Poison Center recommends use
• antipruritic medicine for children

Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you are taking medication regularly, what you should have at home or at work, in case of an emergency.

You can download brochures and posters here:
https://helsenorge.no/Giftinformasjon/brosjyrer-og-plakater