Public First Aid Kit Regulations

There are several requirements that a first aid kit must meet in order be approved by Occupational Health and Safety Administration, or OSHA, and the American National Standards Institute, or ANSI. The ANSI classifies first aid kits in three different categories, type I, II, and III, which all must meet testing and performance standards.

Types of Kits

• Type I are used indoors for stationary purposes. They should be in a place that can avoid damage easily and mounted to a wall or in a fixed position. Type II first aid kits are for indoor use and portable. Type III first aid kits are used for portable and outdoor use.

Basic Contents

• The basic components of a first aid kit include gauze pads, band-aids, roller bandages, two triangular bandages, a cleaning agent, scissors, a blanket, tweezers, adhesive tape, latex gloves, resuscitation equipment, two elastic wraps, a splint, and directions for seeking emergency assistance. Specific workplaces each have their own requirements and need certain items in their own kits.

Coding

• Color coding guidelines for first aid kits are as follows: blue is for antiseptics, yellow is for bandages, red is for burn treatments, and orange is for personal protective equipment.