St John Ambulance Kits

First aid kits are an important item for any workplace, home, or vehicle. All of our first aid kits conform to British Standards. Browse our range of burn, car, sports, and home first aid kits in small, medium, and large sizes.

What items should be in a first aid kit?

Sterile dressings

Wound dressings

Dressing pads attached to a roller bandage are the most useful bandage. They are easy to apply and so are ideal for an emergency.

Types of wound dressings include:

sterile wound dressing
sterile eye pad
sterile pad
fabric plasters
waterproof plasters.

Adhesive dressings or plasters

These are made from fabric or waterproof plastic and can be applied to small cuts and grazes. If you work with food, you’ll be required to use blue plasters. Gel plasters can be used to protect blisters.

Types of adhesive dressings or plasters include:

clear plasters
blue catering plasters
gel blister plasters.

Protective items

Disposable gloves

If available, gloves should be worn whenever you dress wounds, handle bodily fluids or other waste materials. Latex-free gloves should be worn where possible as some people are allergic to latex.

Protection from infection

A plastic face shield or pocket mask can help protect you from cross infection with the casualty when giving rescue breaths.

The face shields mean you can give mouth to mouth resuscitation without spreading infections.

What else should be in a first aid kit?

Bandages

Roller bandages

These are used to support injured joints, limit swelling, maintain pressure on wounds, and secure dressings in place.

Types of roller bandages include:

conforming roller bandage
open-weave roller bandage
support roller bandage
self-adhesive bandage.

Triangular bandages

These are made of cloth and can be folded to make bandages or slings. If they are individually wrapped and sterile they can also be used as dressings for large wounds and burns.

Tubular bandages

Gauze tubular bandage is used to secure dressings on toes and fingers and is applied to the injury with a special applicator. Elasticated tubular bandages can be used to support injured joints such as the elbow or knee.

Additional items

Cleansing wipes: to clean the skin around the wound
Gauze pads: to use as padding, or as swabs to clean around the wounds
Adhesive tape: to hold dressings in place or to hold the loose end of bandages
Scissors: used to cut bandages or sticky tape or someone’s clothing if you need to get to a wound.
Pins and clips: to fasten loose ends of bandages
Aluminium blanket: used to help retain body heat in survival, emergency, and first aid situations.

These items can be found in our first aid kits. Our kits aim to suit everyone’s needs, therefore we have a specialised first aid kit for almost every circumstance. It is important to know what environment your first aid kit will be placed in before purchasing, this will allow you to buy the best kit for your needs.

Holiday first aid kit

Be prepared when you are on holiday to treat any minor emergency such as bruises, sprains, grazes, cuts and scrapes with our holiday first aid kit.

This kit contains a first aid guide for information and advice on dealing with minor injuries to life-threatening conditions.

This first aid kit does not contain first-aid scissors or liquids over 100ml, so it’s perfect for air travel.

If you are driving to your destination then we would recommend one of our motor vehicle kits.

FAQs About Our first aid kits

What are the different types of first aid kit?

It is always recommended to have a first aid kit in the following places:

At home
At work
In the car
At sports events
On holiday
Outdoor adventures
Where fire may be present.

It is always a good idea to have a first aid kit wherever you are.

When should I have a first aid kit?

In an ideal world, you should always have a first aid kit on hand. There are certain times where it’s more likely that you’ll need a first aid kit. Therefore, before you start your journey you should conduct a quick risk assessment of the environment you will be in. You can download a quick risk assessment form here.

Is a first aid kit a legal requirement at work?

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 apply to all workplaces, including those with less than five employees and the self-employed. Under the regulations, employers have a duty to provide adequate and appropriate first aid provision, which includes:

Trained personnel, e.g. first-aiders in high-risk workplaces or an appointed person in low-risk workplaces.
Equipment, e.g. stocked first aid kits with bandages, wipes, plasters, gloves and scissors.
Facilities, e.g. first aid room.

Can you replenish first aid kits?

Yes, first aid kits should always be kept fully stocked. It’s a good idea to order a replenishing kit with your first aid kit This will mean that you won’t need to buy a new kit every time the first aid kit is used.

How many first aid kits do I need?

This will depend on your surrounding environment. It is recommended that you have the appropriate first aid kit for the event you are attending. Below is the list of events that you should have a first aid kit at. However, it’s sensible to always have access to a first aid kit.

At home
At work
In the car
At sports events
On holiday
Outdoor adventures
Where fire may be present.

St John Ambulance Kits

Universal First Aid Kit

Universal Plus First Aid Kit

Covid Essentials Kit

Personal Issue First Aid Kit

Personal Protection Kit

Standard Burn Kit

Holiday First Aid Kit

Outdoor First Aid Kit

Small Motor Vehicle First Aid Kit

Medium Motor Vehicle First Aid Kit

Large Motor Vehicle First Aid Kit

Refill For Universal First Aid Kit