How to Set Up a First Aid Room at Work

Workplace first aid room with wall-mounted kit and supplies

If you’ve been tasked with setting up a first aid room at your workplace, you’ll want to make sure it ticks all the boxes.

But how do you know where to start and whether you’re including everything you need?

We’ve written this guide to answer these questions. We take you through what you need to know, including the equipment required and the kind of space that makes an efficient and functional first aid room.

What sort of space do I need for a first aid room at work?

Ideally, first aid rooms in the workplace should be reserved solely for that purpose and shouldn’t be shared for any other reason.

As well as being clearly signposted and identified as a first aid room, it should be possible to get a stretcher in and out of the door with ease. This makes a room on the ground floor and at the front of your building ideal.

The room should be fitted with a sink with hot and cold running water too and should also be connected to your building’s internal communication system with a list of names and extension numbers available.

Who should have access to the first aid room?

It’s good practice to appoint a designated person to take responsibility for the room. This person is likely to be your organisation’s lead first aider.

In addition, any other employees who are trained in first aid should be able to access the room.

What supplies do I need for the first aid room?

Here’s our checklist of equipment and first aid supplies you will need to furnish your first aid room.

Equipment

Sink with hot and cold running water
Drinking water with disposable cups
Paper towels and soap
Clinical waste bins — these are foot-operated bins and should be lined with yellow clinical waste bags
A medical couch with disposable protection and clean blankets and pillows
Defibrillator
A desk and two chairs
Communication equipment, whether that’s an internal phone or a mobile phone
Contact directory for the organisation
List of useful contact details, for example emergency numbers, your local hospital, nearest poisons information centre, pharmacy, etc.
A record book for noting down details of incidents and treatments

First aid kit

You will also need a first aid kit that’s appropriate for the size of your organisation. As a minimum, work first aid kits should contain:

First aid booklet for reference
Plasters for minor injuries
Sterile dressings for larger wounds
Adhesive tape to secure dressings
Bandages for support, to hold dressings in place, apply pressure to wounds and reduce swelling
Skin cleaning wipes
Saline solution to cleanse wounds or flush out foreign bodies from the eyes
Ice pack to reduce swelling
Thermometer to take the patient’s temperature
Disposable gloves and face masks to reduce the risk of infection to and from the first aid giver
Scissors to cut a patient’s clothing open if necessary or to cut bandages or tape
Foil blanket to help retain the patient’s body heat

You may wish to invest in a wall-mounted first aid kit. Alternatively, you may go for a workplace kit in a bag that you can easily carry to anywhere in your building.

Whichever kit you choose, make sure that you do a stocktake on a regular basis and top up with any first aid supplies that you need.

What else do I need to think about?

While you’re planning your room, you should also give some thought to training employees in first aid at work and refreshing this training on a regular basis.

Ensure that all staff know where the first aid room is located and how to access it. This could involve displaying signage around your building and communicating to employees in your internal newsletter, for example.

Another thoughtful touch is to have a supply of medical ID bracelets available to staff. These useful items come either pre-printed with details of medical conditions or can be customised or written on with specific information about the wearer’s health or medication regime. They make treating a patient in an emergency quicker and safer, as they immediately alert the caregiver to any existing health condition.

Your work first aid room starts here!

With some careful planning, you will be able to create a first aid room that allows you to treat minor injuries and illnesses in an appropriate and pleasant space.

When it comes to stocking and furnishing your first aid room, be sure to check out our vast selection of workplace first aid kits online.

You’ll find a kit suitable for your organisation, as well as any extra supplies you need.

Quick delivery throughout Australia and first-class customer service will make ordering super easy too. So don’t delay and get your first aid room off to a flying start!